Russia Begins Operations in Syria: End Game for the US Empire?

[sToRmR1dR]

Top US Commander for Middle East Secretly Visits Syria

http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160522/1040033642/usa-commander-secret-syria-visit.html

The commander of US Central Command, responsible for the Middle East, Northern Africa and Central Asia, made a secret visit to Syria to discuss Raqqa assault.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — US Army Gen. Joseph Votel, who is the commander of US Central Command (CENTCOM), responsible for the Middle East, Northern Africa and Central Asia, made a secret visit to Syria, US media reported.

US Special Presidential Envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL confirmed the fact that the CENTCOM commander had visited Syria.

​Votel arrived in the Middle Eastern nation for a day-long visit to attend the places, where US special operations forces were located and meet the local forces trained by US specialists, CNN reported on Saturday.

According to the broadcaster, Votel is the highest-ranking US military official, who has visited the crisis-torn Syria, since the beginning of the civil war.

​Syria has been mired in civil war since 2011, with numerous opposition factions and Islamic extremist groups fighting the Syrian Arab Army in an attempt to topple the government of President Bashar Assad.

Since the beginning of the Syrian conflict the United States and its allies have provided military support to opposition factions they consider "moderate" and have called for Assad to resign. As part of this support, Washington has deployed several hundreds of special operations forces into Syria to train and equip moderate rebels to combat radical Islamists.

Suicide Attack in Syria's Qamishli Kills 5 - Reports

http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160522/1040035643/qamishli-suicide-attack-kills.html

At least 5 people were killed in a suicide attack in Syria's northeastern town of Qamishli, local media reported Sunday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — At least five people were killed and 20 more injured in a suicide, when a suicide bomber blew himself in a restaurant of Qamishli, according to the SANA news agency.

Qamishli, which is located near the Syrian-Turkish border has often been the target of terror attacks: six people were killed on May 14 and another suicide blast took the lives of five more on April 30.

Qamishli has been under control of both the Syrian government and Kurdish forces, with the latter controlling the majority of the city.

Syrian Air Force pounds Nusra in northern Aleppo

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/syrian-air-force-pounds-nusra-northern-aleppo/

On Sunday morning, the Syrian Arab Air Force (SAAF) carried out a dozen airstrikes that targeted the jihadist rebel defenses in the northern Aleppo countryside, as pro-government fighters intensify their assault on the Handarat Camp.

The Syrian Air Force specifically targeted the Syrian Al-Qaeda group “Jabhat Al-Nusra” and their allies from the Free Syrian Army (FSA) and Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham near the strategic Al-Castillo Roundabout and Handarat Camp, a source close to Al-Masdar News reported from the Hama Military Airport.

The Al-Castillo Roundabout is located along the imperative highway that is used by the jihadist rebels to reinforce their fighters combating the government and Kurdish forces inside Aleppo City.

Fierce clashes erupt in Hama, Idlib as the Syrian Army targets jihadist groups

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/fierce-clashes-erupt-hama-syrian-army-targets-jihadist-groups/

Earlier today, the Syrian Arab Army’s 47th Brigade of 11th Tank Division carried out a military operation that targeted the jihadist rebels of Jund Al-Aqsa (Syrian Al-Qaeda group) and Ajnad Al-Sham at the Idlib Governorate villages of Sukeek and ‘Atshan.

The Syrian Arab Army’s military operation resulted in the death 8 jihadists between the villages of ‘Atshan and Sukeek; this attack was followed up with a series of airstrikes by the Syrian Arab Air Force (SAAF).

Meanwhile, in the east Hama countryside, the Syrian Arab Army’s 66th Brigade of the 11th Tank Division launched an attack against the Jabhat Al-Nusra (Syrian Al-Qaeda group) fighters inside the village of Al-Sutahayan in western Salamiyah.

 

[angelburst29]

Top US Commander for Middle East Secretly Visits Syria
http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160522/1040033642/usa-commander-secret-syria-visit.html

The commander of US Central Command, responsible for the Middle East, Northern Africa and Central Asia, made a secret visit to Syria to discuss Raqqa assault.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — US Army Gen. Joseph Votel, who is the commander of US Central Command (CENTCOM), responsible for the Middle East, Northern Africa and Central Asia, made a secret visit to Syria, US media reported.

US Special Presidential Envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL confirmed the fact that the CENTCOM commander had visited Syria.

​Votel arrived in the Middle Eastern nation for a day-long visit to attend the places, where US special operations forces were located and meet the local forces trained by US specialists, CNN reported on Saturday.

According to the broadcaster, Votel is the highest-ranking US military official, who has visited the crisis-torn Syria, since the beginning of the civil war.

Well, that's an interesting development, which can only mean - an escalation in more bloodshed? Guess this is a serious rebuttal to Putin's offer - for the U.S. to join airstrikes on it's "moderate" proxies in their Raqqa stronghold?

Why US Rejected Russian Offer for Joint Airstrikes Against al-Nusra Front
http://sputniknews.com/world/20160522/1040046176/us-russia-nusra-front.html

Russia has offered the US to launch joint airstrikes in Syria against the al-Nusra Front, one of the most dangerous militant groups in the Middle East. The initiative would be a logical part of the war on terrorism, but may face some unexpected obstacles.

Russia, the US and other parties are continuing to coordinate efforts on the Syrian settlement. According to Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, Moscow offered Washington to launch joint airstrikes against the al-Nusra Front, starting May 25.

"To continue the fight against UN-designated terrorist organizations, we are offering the United States — as co-chair of the International Syria Support Group — to begin joint actions on May 25 between Russian Aerospace Forces and the US-led coalition, on planning and carrying out airstrikes against al-Nusra Front and illegal armed groups that do not adhere to the ceasefire," Shoigu said.

Until May 25, Russia wants to cooperate with the US to establish the ceasefire regime in areas under control of moderate opposition groups.

"We suggest the United States to continue its work with the 'moderate' opposition and those who have sided with them in the cessation of hostilities until May 25 of this year, to give exact definitions of the regions under their control, and to withdraw units observing the conditions of the cessation of hostilities from the territories controlled by al-Nusra Front formations and other international terrorist organizations," the minister said.

Shoigu added that actions by al-Nusra Front continue to fuel tensions in the region.

"We do not collaborate or coordinate our operation with the Russians. As the Secretary [Carter] has said, Russian operations are supporting and enabling the Assad Regime which is like pouring fuel on a fire. We remain focused solely on degrading and defeating ISIL [Daesh]," US Department of Defense spokesman Matthew Allen told Sputnik.

Indeed, al-Nusra Front is one of the key sources of instability in Syria, especially in northern Syria, analyst Vladimir Evseyev from the Institute of CIS Countries said.

"Recently, Russia has proved to the US that this is al-Nusra Front militants who attack civilians. This is why a compromise between Moscow and Washington is possible," Evseyev told Gazeta.Ru.

According to the analyst, the US-led coalition has not conducted actions against the terrorist group due to Turkey’s interests in the region.

"The US doesn’t want to get involved because Washington doesn’t want additional problems with Turkey," he said.

On the other hand, the Turkish government supports radical Islamist groups. This fact should sooner or later anger Washington, Evseyev suggested. Unlike Daesh, al-Nusra Front are adapting to the ceasefire and disguising as more moderate militant groups.

Russia and the US have been in bilateral talks over a plan to end the Syrian war. Moscow’s offer on joint actions against al-Nusra Front was aimed at eliminating one of the main obstacles in the peaceful settlement.

However, Washington seems "determined to reject any Russian plan out of hand, which likely explains why the months of negotiations have just amounted to intermittent US statements of condemnation," an article by Ron Paul Institute read.

Russia is steadily building positive ties, if not to say strategic alliances, with its Asian neighbors which are discontent with Washington’s policy, an article in Asia Times read.

Russia Builds 'Strategic Alliances' With US Partners in Asia
http://sputniknews.com/politics/20160522/1040042367/russia-asean-cooperation.html

"While the West and its strong allies in the region see the move as part of Russia’s 'expansionism', others view it as the Russian way of counterbalancing the US position in the region," the author wrote.

For Asian countries, cooperation with Moscow is a chance to decrease their dependence on the US and its "fragile commitment to their security."

At the same time, Russia has offered a positive alternative with "huge potential" for cooperation at the state and bilateral levels and also at the level of regional organizations.

Some ASEAN nations have already supported this approach, the article read. Cooperation with Russia would help them become more independent from the US. In turn, Russia would be able to decrease its reliance on Western markets.

Russia considers ASEAN an opportunity for economic expansion. ASEAN is one of the most successful international organizations uniting 604 million people who produce over $2 trillion of GDP.

Moscow is actively developing regional economic initiatives. Recently, Russia, Azerbaijan and Iran agreed to establish the North-South Transport Corridor along the Caspian Sea. The new route will speed up deliveries of goods from India to Central Asia and Russia. What is more, the corridor will help India, Iran and Azerbaijan gain access to the market of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), according to Asia Times.

As for strategic cooperation, there are already possibilities for military cooperation between Moscow and some Washington’s allies, particularly Thailand.

"Russian military hardware can be seen in Thailand. Russian Mi-17 helicopters have begun to replace US Blackhawks. Thailand’s aging arsenal of American M-60, M-48, and M-41 tanks may soon be replaced by Russian T-90s," the article read.

"US influence in the region is being increasingly challenged, if not replaced, because of its own interventions in the internal political matters of its allies in the region in the name of establishing 'democracy' or protecting 'human rights'," the author wrote.

Russia’s policy in the region may result in withholding or limiting the US influence, to an extent where the US would be unable to operate through its "traditional methods of domination and diplomatic coercion," the article read.

Cooperation between Russia and ASEAN countries was also boosted by anti-Russian policies of the US and the European Union. Moscow has focused on the Asian region due to tensions with Western countries over Ukraine, according to Reuters.

Washington's two key allies in Asia, Japan and South Korea, have been increasingly worried that the US is not fully committed to providing them security at a time when North Korea appears to be actively pursuing nuclear weapons and tensions in the South China Sea are rising, analyst Michael Crowley asserted.

Washington's Two Key Allies in Asia Doubt US Commitment to Their Security
http://sputniknews.com/asia/20160522/1040054751/us-japan-south-korea.html

Japan, South Korea and Taiwan "increasingly fret that the US, which has protected them for decades under a nuclear umbrella, may become a less reliable ally," he noted in an article for Politico.

Some in Tokyo and Seoul have apparently contemplated opting for a measure of last resort when it comes to security — acquiring nuclear weapons as a means to deter potential North Korean aggression.

This idea, even if marginal, marks a major departure for Japan, a country that has forsworn nuclear weapons following the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki during WWII. In March, Osaka Governor Ichiro Matsui said that the nation should discuss the issue and decide whether to go nuclear or not.

"With the perfect right to collective self-defense, we should debate whether our troops can completely cover the needs of our own country," Matsui told reporters. "If we possess weapons, the ultimate weapon will become necessary."

In 2011, Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara urged Japanese authorities to develop nuclear weapons.

Should Washington's two key allies in the region decide to explore this option, the move could spark a nuclear arms race in Asia, offering a disturbing vision of what the analyst referred to as a "dangerous atomic future."

It is against this backdrop that US President Barack Obama, who has long advocated denuclearization efforts in the world, will visit Hiroshima on May 27.

Divisions are growing among NATO country members over the need to restore dialogue with Russia, an article in Financial Times read. Concerns are growing that the standoff between Moscow and the West is getting out of control.

Alliance Divided: NATO Members at Odds Over Restoring Dialogue With Russia
http://sputniknews.com/politics/20160522/1040050251/nato-russia-dialogue.html

The newspaper made the assumption as a result of two days of talks between NATO foreign ministers and chiefs of general staffs. The meeting took place in Brussels on May 19-20.

During the talks, representatives of France and Germany pushed for rapprochement with Moscow and holding a session of the Russia-NATO Council during the July summit in Warsaw. Other NATO members were skeptical about the idea.

For example, one Eastern European diplomat told the Financial Times that talks with Russia were not to calm Moscow but to "reassure people in Brussels, people who worry too much about angering [Russian President Vladimir] Putin."

He added that Russia is just "playing games with NATO."

The "war of words" between Russia and NATO is getting increasingly "worrisome and bellicose," the article read.

NATO plans a major military buildup at its eastern flank, and Moscow has promised to respond. Earlier this week, British General Richard Shirreff warned that the prospect of a full war with Russia within a year.

This triggered a "bout of soul-searching within NATO" over the need to de-escalate the tensions.

British Foreign Minister Philip Hammond harshly criticized the general for his disturbing conduct and using irresponsible language.

"It’s wildly speculative and inflammatory, and I’m afraid from where I sit it does look as though it is related to maximising publicity," Hammond told Financial Times.

He added that dialogue is the "best way" to de-escalate tensions with Russia.

In Turn, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that the alliance is trying to avoid "misunderstandings, misinterpretation and miscalculations" in order to make sure "things are not spiraling out of control."

NATO has repeatedly claimed Russia is a threat, thus justifying their military buildup in Eastern Europe. The alliance plans to deploy four or five battalions in the Baltics and Poland. The decision is due to be made at the summit in Warsaw. Moscow has said that Russia is not interested in confrontation but ready to give an adequate response to the NATO strategy.

Mounting evidence presented by high-ranking US military officials to the United States’ Congress make it clear that the American army, once a powerful might backing Washington’s policies around the world, is now slowly, but surely, unraveling.

These Six Facts Expose the American Military’s Coming Collapse
http://sputniknews.com/us/20160522/1040036832/six-facts-us-army-unraveling.html

According to The National Interest, the gradual decrease in military spending by a whopping 25 percent over the last five years has led to erosion of the American armed forces. The news outlet made a chart of six top revelations by military authorities that point to the horrifying scale of problems the nation’s army is now facing.

Marine Corps’ Aircraft Grounded in Droves The US Marine Corps revealed that two-thirds of the branch’s 276 F/A-18 Hornet strike jets had been grounded because of a lack of financing and equipment weariness. To keep the rest of the aircraft in service the Corps has resorted to "cannibalizing," which is the practice of taking out components of one multibillion-dollar jet to repair another one. This has resulted in a situation in which every serving pilot has only four hours of flight time per week instead of 30 a decade before that.

The Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, faces troubles that the military has long struggled to fix, including issues with onboard oxygen generation/filtration system, which if not fixed properly, could lead to the death of pilots.

Further, one hundred of the 147 Super Stallion helicopters have been grounded due to various technical problems.

Army Brigades Losing Tactical Efficiency and Shrinking in Numbers As of 2015, only two-thirds of the Army brigades were ready for decisive actions due to budget slashes, according to the Army Vice Chief of Staff General Daniel Allyn. At the same time the US military contingent is shrinking in numbers that “increases the threats and danger to the United States,” Chief of Staff General Ray Odierno said.

By mid-2018, the authorities aim to shape an army of 450,000 soldiers that will be 20 percent smaller than the army in 2012.

Air Force Jets Being Refitted With Parts From Museum Planes The Air Force’s B-1 Lancer bombers are being refitted with parts pulled out of museum jets to be kept in-service. The components of the F-16 Fighting Falcons are also actively used in repairing other F-16s that constantly need spare parts.

Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James unveiled that less than half of the branch’s forces are prepared for engaging in “a conflict…. where an adversary could shoot us down, interfere with us in some major way in space or cyberspace.”

The Navy’s Dying for More Ships The US Navy is consistently seeing shortage of ships in their fleet. The budget shortfalls “forced the Navy to accept significant risk in key mission areas,” Admiral Jon Greenert admitted. Currently, the branch needs 350 battle vessels, but it only has 273.

Marine Corps’ Copters Keep Crashing The average number of Marine Corps’ aircraft crashes has increased twice in a decade, resulting in a string of fatal accidents earlier this year. Over a hundred helicopters were grounded for additional technical checks afterwards.

Ageing B-52s Called Back in Service Amid Lack of Alternatives The Air Force has to throw into the fray B-52 bombers, which are more than half-a-century-old, to carry out anti-Daesh operations in the Middle East as the more modern, stealth-capable B-1 Lancers performed poorly in the same campaigns.

Serious tensions are simmering between "interventionists" and "America Firsters" in the US Army, American author Justin Raimondo warns.

Why US Officers Believe Pentagon Officials Take Them for a Fool
http://sputniknews.com/politics/20160518/1039841937/us-army-dissent-pentagon.html

While the Pentagon and NATO officials are playing the game called "Chicken-Little, sky-is-falling," in claiming that Russia is harboring plans to invade Europe, other US military officers urge their counterparts "to stop waving the bloody red shirt," American journalist and the editorial director of Antiwar.com Justin Raimondo writes in his article.

Predictably, the whole "Russians-are-coming" fuss is all about the money, he stresses.

"In early April, a battalion of senior military officials appeared before a Senate panel and testified that the US Army is 'outranged and outgunned,' particularly in any future conflict with Russia. Arguing for a much bigger budget for the Army, they claimed that, absent a substantial increase in funding, the Russians would overtake us and, even scarier, 'the army of the future will be too small to secure the nation'," Raimondo narrates, referring to Lieutenant General Herbert R. McMaster, Jr.'s testimony at the US Senate Committee on Armed Service.

In a similar vein the US influential think tank RAND Corporation claimed in February 2016 that Russian military forces could overrun NATO's Baltic footholds in 60 hours.

Then, in late March, US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter warned American lawmakers against sequestering the US defense budget.

"Ash justified all the needless spending by telling the Senators that there are five 'security challenges' confronting the United States — terrorism, North Korea, China, Russia and Iran — before lapsing into Pentagon-speak about why more money is always better than less money," noted Philip Giraldi, a former CIA Case Officer and Army Intelligence Officer, in his April Op-Ed for the Unz Review.

It is worth mentioning that the US defense budget has skyrocketed by almost $315 billion since 2001.

And of course the [US] hawks are eager to seize on any excuse to expand an already bloated US military budget — one that exceeds Russian military expenditures by seven-fold," Raimondo remarks.

It would be a mistake to think that all US military officers are planning to dig up the hatchet.

The American author refers to an article by Mark Perry for Politico.com which is entitled "The US Army's War Over Russia." Perry cites senior US military figures, throwing "a rhetorical hand grenade" into the camp of American interventionists.

"This is the 'Chicken-Little, sky-is-falling' set in the Army. These guys want us to believe the Russians are 10 feet tall. There's a simpler explanation: The Army is looking for a purpose, and a bigger chunk of the budget. And the best way to get that is to paint the Russians as being able to land in our rear and on both of our flanks at the same time. What a crock," a senior Pentagon official told Perry.

"A growing group of dissenters both in and out of uniform think that McMaster's grim warnings about Army capabilities dodges the real issue — of whether the Army is willing to change the way it fights wars," Perry stressed.

The journalists call attention to the fact that American interventionism is steadily bankrupting the United States.

"You know, which would you rather have — a high-speed rail system, or another brigade in Poland? Because that's what this is really all about," a Pentagon officer said, as cited by Perry.

Raimondo warns that "a civil war within the US military is raging."

"The anti-Russian propaganda campaign has been ongoing for years: the military-industrial complex and their neoconservative allies (and beneficiaries) need a new enemy now that the 'war on terrorism' is wearing a little threadbare," he underscores.

The question of who will prevail, US interventionists or "America Firsters," remains open.

 

[sToRmR1dR]

Top US Commander for Middle East Secretly Visits Syria
http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160522/1040033642/usa-commander-secret-syria-visit.html

The commander of US Central Command, responsible for the Middle East, Northern Africa and Central Asia, made a secret visit to Syria to discuss Raqqa assault.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — US Army Gen. Joseph Votel, who is the commander of US Central Command (CENTCOM), responsible for the Middle East, Northern Africa and Central Asia, made a secret visit to Syria, US media reported.

US Special Presidential Envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL confirmed the fact that the CENTCOM commander had visited Syria.

​Votel arrived in the Middle Eastern nation for a day-long visit to attend the places, where US special operations forces were located and meet the local forces trained by US specialists, CNN reported on Saturday.

According to the broadcaster, Votel is the highest-ranking US military official, who has visited the crisis-torn Syria, since the beginning of the civil war.

Well, that's an interesting development, which can only mean - an escalation in more bloodshed? Guess this is a serious rebuttal to Putin's offer - for the U.S. to join airstrikes on it's "moderate" proxies in their Raqqa stronghold?

Why US Rejected Russian Offer for Joint Airstrikes Against al-Nusra Front
http://sputniknews.com/world/20160522/1040046176/us-russia-nusra-front.html

Maybe this excerpt gives us some food for thoughts!

Session 4 October 1997:

...One of the huge portals that presently being fought over is the portal of the Middle East. If you think back over the history of the Earth, you will realize how many dramas of religion and civilization have been introduced in that portal. It's a huge portal with a radius of 1,000 miles or so. This is why there is so much activity in the Middle East. This is the portal that the Lizzies use.' Could you comment on that information. Are there other portals that are that large which are used by positive entities?

A: Portal is dual.

Q: So any can use it. Is it correct that this is a large portal over the Middle East?

A: Statements made in publication are close, but not absolute.

Q: Is this idea of portals extremely significant. Are they fought over?

A: Yes, but you do not need to explore these truths, until you have learned more.

We are learning! :)

 

[angelburst29]

Maybe this excerpt gives us some food for thoughts!

Session 4 October 1997:

...One of the huge portals that presently being fought over is the portal of the Middle East. If you think back over the history of the Earth, you will realize how many dramas of religion and civilization have been introduced in that portal. It's a huge portal with a radius of 1,000 miles or so. This is why there is so much activity in the Middle East. This is the portal that the Lizzies use.' Could you comment on that information. Are there other portals that are that large which are used by positive entities?

A: Portal is dual.

Q: So any can use it. Is it correct that this is a large portal over the Middle East?

A: Statements made in publication are close, but not absolute.

Q: Is this idea of portals extremely significant. Are they fought over?

A: Yes, but you do not need to explore these truths, until you have learned more.

We are learning! :)

Now, that's an interesting "thought" that I hadn't considered, StormridR! A Portal or energy center that the
al-Nusra Front had transformed into a power base, feeding it with "direct negative energy"?

Applying that same principle to Palmyra, and how an ancient and sacred spiritual location was desecrated with mass killings and beheadings, and the countless battles by the Syrian Army to reclaim it, focuses on another angle of the forces and struggles involved?

In a spiritual sense, I can now understand "the wisdom" behind - organizing a full orchestra - to cast out the negative energy and releasing the Souls who suffered there, transforming Palmyra back into a sacred and venerated spiritual location.

 

[angelburst29]

Afghan prisoner released from Guantanamo after 14 years
http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2016/05/21/466685/Obaidullah-Guantanamo-Bay

The US government has announced that an Afghan man who once faced war crimes charges has been cleared for release from the US military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

A statement announcing the decision to release the man, known by the single name of Obaidullah, was posted on a Pentagon website on Friday.

The Periodic Review Board, which conducts parole-style hearings for Guantanamo prisoners, determined it was no longer necessary to detain him.

The board found that “the risks that the detainee presents can be adequately mitigated,” according to the three-paragraph statement.

Obaidullah was captured by US forces during a raid in Afghanistan in July 2002 when he was about 19-years-old.

About 20 un-activated land mines were found near his home. US authorities said he was part of an al-Qaeda-linked cell, an allegation his lawyers have denied.

He was charged in US military tribunals in September 2008 with conspiracy and providing material support for terrorism.

However, the US government dismissed the charges in 2011 and his lawyers have been pressing for his release ever since.

As many as 775 detainees were brought to the notorious prison, which was set up after the September 11, 2001 attacks. There are about 80 detainees left at the prison.

Guantanamo remains a black hole of US extrajudicial viciousness, hundreds of innocent men and boys (all Muslims, most sold for bounty) held lawlessly since January 2002 – denied due process and judicial fairness.

Extrajudicially Held Guantanamo Detainee to be Released
http://www.activistpost.com/2016/05/extrajudicially-held-guantanamo-detainee-to-be-released.html

Obama’s pledge to close the prison camp before end of 2009 was willful deception. An executive order alone is needed, not congressional authorization as he maintains.

Today, 80 men remain indefinitely detained, most uncharged and untried – perhaps all innocent victims. Nine perished in captivity, murdered in cold blood. Over two dozen recommended for release remain imprisoned.

US forces kidnapped Afghan national known as Obaidullah from his family home on July 20, 2002. Charges against him were entirely fabricated, later dropped. He was never arraigned in a war court. In a later statement, he said:

The Americans came while my family and I were all sleeping in our home in the village of Milani, close to Khost City. At that time I was approximately 19 years old.

On that night, I heard noises and the soldiers woke me up. I was very confused about what was going on, and why they were in my home, but I and my family cooperated with them.

Even though I was not resisting, they tied my feet together and my hands together with plastic cuffs. Then they put a hood over my head and forced me to sit for hours against a wall.

The plastic cut into my hands and it was painful to sit that way for so long. I was terrified about what would happen to me.

He was forcibly taken to America’s Chapman airfield forward operating base, then Bagram prison, brutally interrogated, tortured, beaten, threatened with death, isolated, his hands at times painfully chained to the ceiling.

In October 2002, he was transferred to Guantanamo. Brutal treatment amounting to torture continued. “I was very sick for many days,” he said, denied medical treatment.

In 2013, he said he was losing all hope for release. At the time, Amnesty International said his “experience exemplifies the multiple violations of human rights perpetrated by a country that claims to be committed to the respect and promotion of international human rights principles.”

On May 19, the Guantanamo periodic review board approved Obaidullah’s release, a statement saying he “has not espoused any anti-US sentiment that would indicate he views the US as his enemy.”

He poses no “threat to the security of the United States…Neither the detainee nor his family have any ties to extremists outside of Guantanamo.”

The board recommended he be transferred “with appropriate security assurances” to a country with a “strong monitoring program.” Whether he’ll go home to Afghanistan is unclear.

Marine Major Derek Poteet represented him since 2010. “This young man should have been released years ago,” he said.

He was innocent of initial charges against him, fabricated to frame him unjustly. During his 2013 hunger strike for justice, Poteet said he withered to a “bag of bones.”

Once released, he faces a long, hard readjustment struggle. The injustice of what he endured won’t ever be erased.

The ordeal continues for dozens of other wrongfully held Guantanamo detainees – victims of US imperial viciousness.

 

[sToRmR1dR]

Jabhat al-Nusra continues attacks in Syrian provinces — Russian Defense Ministry

http://tass.ru/en/politics/877458

The number of settlements joining the process of reconciliation has reached 114 and the number of armed groups that declared their commitment to the ceasefire terms remained unchanged - 59

MOSCOW, May 22. /TASS/. Groups constituting the international terrorist organization Jabhat al-Nusra (outlawed in Russia) are continuing shelling of Syrian populated localities from multiple missile launcher systems and mortars, the Russian center for reconciliation of the warring parties in Syria said in its regular daily news bulleting posted on the Russian defense ministry’s website on Sunday.

"In the province of Latakia, Jabhat al-Nusra groups conducted shelling of the settlements of Ard Al-Wata, Kinsibba and Rasha. In the province of Damascus, militants backed by tanks and armored infantry carriers attacked positions of the government forces near a pharmaceuticals plant in the settlement of Khan Sheikh," the center said.

The terrorists sustained big losses and were rebuffed to their initial positions, according to the bulletin.

Eight ceasefire violations

According to the bulletin, the ceasefire regime has been generally observed in most of Syria’s provinces, with eight violations reported in the province of Damascus in the past day.

"Jaysh al-Islam groups used mortars and firearms to shell positions of the Syrian army near the settlements of Abril, Harasta, Huteita al-Jarash, Meyda, Douma and Haush Haraby. The Masakid Barza and Basatin Abu Jarash districts came under shelling from multiple missile launcher systems and mortars," the center said.

The number of settlements joining the process of reconciliation has reached 114 and the number of armed groups that declared their commitment to the ceasefire terms remained unchanged - 59. One settlement in the province of Homs has signed a reconciliation agreement, according to the bulletin.

Talks on joining the regime of cessation of hostilities are continued with field commanders of armed opposition groups in the provinces of Damascus and Aleppo.

No air strikes were delivered by the Russian air group and the Syrian air force at armed opposition group which have declared cessation of hostilities and referred their coordinates to the Russian or US reconciliation centers, the bulletin says.

A ceasefire regime brokered by Russia and the United States on February 22 officially came into effect in Syria at midnight Damascus time on February 27. This does not cover terrorist groups such as Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra, both outlawed in Russia, and other groups recognized as terrorist by the United Nations Security Council.

An hour before the ceasefire came into force, the United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution in support cessation of hostilities in Syria. The document was initiated by Russia and the United States and won support from all the 15 members of the United Nations Security Council.

The first since 2012 humanitarian convoy has reached the settlement of Harasta in the province of Damascus.

A ceasefire regime brokered by Russia and the United States on February 22 officially came into effect in Syria at midnight Damascus time on February 27. This does not cover terrorist groups such as Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra, both outlawed in Russia, and other groups recognized as terrorist by the United Nations Security Council.

An hour before the ceasefire came into force, the United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution in support cessation of hostilities in Syria. The document was initiated by Russia and the United States and won support from all the 15 members of the United Nations Security Council.

US backed rebels prepare to attack Raqqa City from 3 axes

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/us-backed-rebels-prepare-attack-raqqa-city-3-axes/

The U.S. backed rebels from the “Syrian Democratic Forces” (SDF) are preparing for their largest military operation inside the Al-Raqqa Governorate, as they look to liberate the provincial capital from the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS).

With 500 U.S. military advisers in northern Syria, the Syrian Democratic Forces are now ready to attack Raqqa City from its stronghold at the border-city of ‘Ayn ‘Issa.

The Syrian Democratic Forces will likely launch their large-scale offensive from three different axes, which would not be out of the ordinary for them, given their past offensive contingencies at Al-Shadadeh and the Tishreen Dam.

The primary attack is expected to come from ‘Ayn ‘Issa (north), while two other units attempt to advance from the Tishreen Dam (west Raqqa) and Jabal ‘Abdel-‘Aziz (west Hasakah).

Brigade 93 Base in ‘Ayn ‘Issa is situated just 45 km north of Raqqa City; this will be the preferred method to the ISIS stronghold, despite being the most arduous route of the three because of the large terrorist presence at the northern flank.

Should the SDF break through this corridor in northern Raqqa, then ISIS’ defenses will likely fold at the other two fronts.

Liberation of Raqqa Similar to ‘Capture of Berlin in WWII’

http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160522/1040057886/liberation-raqqa-capture-berlin.html

The upcoming liberation of the Syrian city of Raqqa from the terrorist group Daesh can be compared geopolitically to the capture of Berlin during World War II, member of political division of the Social-Nationalist Party of Syria, Tariq al-Ahmad said.

Earlier it was reported that the Syrian Democratic Forces will start a large-scale operation to liberate the ‘capital’ city of Daesh terrorists, Raqqa.

“In general, I believe that Raqqa is symbolic due to the presence of Daesh and it is declared as their capital by them. Taking back Raqqa can be compared with the capture of Berlin in World War II. I say this in a political and geopolitical sense,” al-Ahmad said.

He further said that in his opinion whoever takes back Raqqa will majorly stand out in the world in symbolic terms.

“It will be considered a major victory over Daesh as I think it is very important to unite joint efforts of Russians, Iranians and other allies, so that the Syrian Army can enter Raqqa,” al-Ahmad stressed.
The politician regretted that the Kurdish Self-Defense Forces and the Kurdish Democratic Party made an agreement with Washington ‘behind closed doors.’

According to al-Ahmad, Kurds and all other armed groups must work in coordination with the Syrian Army for the liberation of Raqqa.

“The city can only be considered completely liberated when it is fully controlled by the Syrian government troops,” the politician said.

On the other hand, professor of Damascus State University and a political columnist, Hussam Shoaib, said that he doubts that Raqqa will be liberated any time soon.

“I doubt it will soon be liberated as assault on Raqqa requires a broad front with large forces on the ground, apart from accurate intelligence. I think that these opportunities can be observed only with the Syrian state and its military institutions. Based on that Kurds won’t be able do it themselves with the support of just the United States,” the expert said.

Earlier, a source told Sputnik that the US-led coalition's aircraft had showered Raqqa with leaflets urging civilians to evacuate as the forces prepare to start the offensive.

Despite the difficult task at hand, representative of the Kurdish Democratic Union Party in France Khalid Essa said that there can be no peace in Syria without the liberation of Raqqa.

“I cannot tell you in terms of military, I cannot speak about concrete details, as I am involved in politics and diplomacy, but I am sure that sooner or later Raqqa must be released from terrorists because as long as there are terrorists in Raqqa, there cannot be peace,” Essa said.

A source in Ain al-Arab (northern Aleppo province) reported that a large force of Kurdish militia has already been formed and is ready to begin an assault in the coming hours. In addition, a full mobilization of Syrian Democratic Forces has taken place in the town of Ain al-Arab in the Northern parts of Raqqa province.

Russia’s military deliver 3.5 tons of foodstuffs to Khabab in Syria’s Daraa Governorate

http://tass.ru/en/world/877463

The town joined the ceasefire agreement on May 8, Col. Sergey Ivanov said

KHABAB (SYRIA), May 23. /TASS/. Russia’s military have delivered some 3.5 metric tons of humanitarian aid to the town of Khabab of Syria’s Daraa Governorate, Col. Sergey Ivanov, spokesman for the Russian center for reconciliation of the warring sides in Syria, told journalists on Monday.

The town joined the ceasefire agreement on May 8, he said.

"Today, representatives of Russia’s Armed Forces delivered humanitarian aid of 3.5 tons to the inhabited locality of Khabab of the Daraa Governorate to render assistance to refugees," Ivanov said.

He said the holding of humanitarian actions contributes a lot to establishment of peace in Syria.

Local residents met Russia’s humanitarian mission with a festive rally. The Daraa governor and representatives of the local administration spoke at it.

"Today Russia very much supports our army, our country and shows respect for our nation, assists us in the humanitarian sphere. Besides, Russia plays an important role in the process of reconciliation of the Syrian people," Governor Mohammad Khaled Al-Hannus said at the rally.

The ceasefire regime took effect in Syria on February 27. Shortly before, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution supporting a cessation of hostilities. The document drafted by Russia and the United States was backed by all 15 Security Council member states.

The ceasefire regime does not cover the Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist organizations as well as other groups ruled terrorist by the Security Council.

Russia takes an active part in the Syrian settlement effort. It helps Syria's authorities fight terrorists and has conducted mine clearing work in the ancient city of Palmyra.

Russia’s Aerospace Forces started delivering pinpoint strikes in Syria at facilities of Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra, which are banned in Russia, on September 30, 2015, on a request from Syrian President Bashar Assad.

On March 14, 2016, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered to start, from March 15, withdrawing the main part of the Russian Aerospace Forces’ group from Syria. Putin said the tasks set before the military "have been fulfilled on the whole." Russian Deputy Defense Minister Nikolai Pankov said strikes on terrorists will continue to be delivered.

Jihadists launch night attack at the Latakia-Turkey border

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/jihadists-launch-night-attack-latakia-turkey-border/

The jihadist rebels from Jaysh Al-Turkmen, Jabhat Al-Nusra (Syrian Al-Qaeda group), and the Free Syrian Army (FSA) launched a powerful assault at the village of ‘Ayn ‘Issa in Jabal Turkmen (Turkmen Mountain) tonight, targeting the Syrian Arab Army’s defensive positions near the Turkish border.

According to a local source, the jihadist rebels conducted the assault under the cover of night in order to advance their positions against the Syrian Armed Forces.

However, all reports from northern Latakia tonight indicate that the Syrian Armed Forces were able to repel the jihadist assault, despite being caught off guard at night.

The village of ‘Ayn ‘Issa in Jabal Turkmen can be seen from the Turkish Hatay Province; its proximity to the hilltop town of Saraf makes it an imperative military endeavor for the jihadists.

BREAKING:

Three Explosions Hit Near Bus Station in Syria's Latakia, Victims Reported

http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160523/1040071899/explositons-jabla-syria.html

Three consecutive explosions took place near a bus station in the city of Jabla reportedly leaving several civilians dead and wounded.

BEIRUT (Sputnik) – Three explosions occurred near a bus station in the city of Jabla in Syria’s Latakia province, leaving several civilians dead or injured, a bus station employee said Monday.

“Three consecutive explosions happened next to the bus station in the city of Jabla. There are dead and injured. Suicide bombers most likely detonated themselves,” the employee told RIA Novosti by telephone.

Some reports suggest the city was shelled.

Yemen Suicide Bombers Attack Military Recruitment Center

http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160523/1040072343/yemen-suicide-bombing.html

At least 45 people were killed and dozens more injured in two suicide bomber attacks in Yemen, according to a military official.

A pair of suicide bombers detonated their explosives vests in a queue of young men at a Yemeni army recruitment center near the Badr base in the southern city of Aden.

The attackers were targeting the recruits who were reportedly enlisting to fight against the Houthis in the north.

​According to military sources, one of the attackers triggered his bomb while parked in a car outside the recruitment center, leaving 20 people dead, while the second exploded in the midst of a group of young men in Aden's Khormaksar district, murdering at least 25 more.

Yemen's last major terrorist attack took place the port city of Al Mukalla on May 15, with the death toll exceeding 40 people. Daesh, which is outlawed in many countries, including Russia, took responsibility for the attack.

Yemen has been engulfed in a military conflict between the government headed by President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi and Houthi rebels, the country’s main opposition force. The Houthis are backed by army units loyal to former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

A number of terrorist groups are also active in the country, including Daesh and Al Qaeda.

DETAILS TO FOLLOW

ISIL Suffers Heavy Casualties in Clashes with Syrian Army in Deir Ezzur

http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950303000323

The Syrian government forces' anti-terrorism operation near al-Tharda mountain ended in the killing of at least 32 ISIL terrorists and inflicted major damage on their military equipment too.

The Syrian army also repelled offensives of the ISIL on the government forces' positions from Haweija al-Saker to penetrate into al-Sina'ah district, which claimed the lives of scores of terrorists.

In relevant developments in the Eastern province on Sunday, the ISIL strongholds near the strategic Deir Ezzur airbase and Southwestern countryside of the city came under massive bombardments of the Syrian army's aircraft, in which not only scores of the ISIL terrorists were killed or wounded but the group's armored vehicles were destroyed in large scale.

Syria in Last 24 Hours: ISIL Terrorists Sustain Heavy Losses in Army's Ambush Operations in Homs

http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950303000333

The army units seized a large amount of explosives and weapons from the terrorists in Homs province.

The Syrian army also inflicted heavy losses on the terrorist groups in other key provinces across Syria.

Homs

The Syrian military forces and popular fighters stormed the ISIL strongholds near the ancient city of Palmyra (Tadmur) and forced the militants to retreat from at least three key heights in the region.

The Syrian government forces' anti-terrorism operation near Palmyra ended in the recapture of the heights of al-Hari citadel, 619 and 711 in al-Mazar mountain.

At least 18 members of the ISIL were killed and several more were wounded in the attacks.

The Syrian and Russian fighter jets, in a fresh round of combat sorties, targeted the ISIL positions in the Eastern and Southwestern parts of Homs province, while the army's aircraft pounded al-Nusra Front's strongholds in the Northern territories of the province.

The Syrian and Russian Air Force bombed jointly the ISIL strongholds in the oil-rich region of al-Shaer and Um al-Tababir, which ended in the killing or wounding of several militants.

The Syrian air fleet, meantime, struck the ISIL concentration centers near Palmyra and near al-Bardeh region in the Eastern side of the ancient Assyrian town of Quaryatayn, which also claimed the lives of several militants.

Al-Nusra gatherings in Tald, Houla, Borj Qai, Keisin and al-Rastan were massively bombed by the Syrian jets, pinning down the militants behind their defense lines.

Deir Ezzur

The Syrian fighter jets carried out two separate rounds of combat flights over ISIL strongholds near the Eastern city of Deir Ezzur and inflicted heavy casualties on the terrorists.

The ISIL strongholds near the strategic Deir Ezzur airbase and Southwestern countryside of the city came under massive bombardments of the Syrian army's aircraft, in which not only scores of the ISIL terrorists were killed or wounded but the group's armored vehicles were destroyed in large scale.

Sweida

Dozens of ISIL terrorists were killed or wounded in the Syrian Army troops' offensives in the Northeastern territories of Sweida province.

The Syrian soldiers engaged in fierce clashes with the ISIL near the village of al-Qasr in al-Badiyeh region, which ended in the killing or wounding of tens of the militants.

The ISIL, meantime, left behind its damaged military equipment and machinegun-equipped vehicles and fled the battlefront to evade more casualties.

Lattakia

A notorious commander of Ahrar al-Sham was killed in the Syrian Army troops' offensives in the Northeastern part of the coastal province of Lattakia.

Ismayeel Ali Pasha known as Abi Ziya Banash was killed in a tough battle with the Syrian soldiers and popular forces near Tal al-Hadada.

The Syrian army has been engaged in heavy fighting with the terrorists in the Northeastern part of Lattakia, mainly in Tal al-Hadada, Rabi'eh and Salma to root out militancy in the region.

Hama

The Syrian army announced that its troops alongside their popular allies repelled the ISIL attacks along the strategic Ithriya-Salamiyah road and forced them to retreat from the battlefield under its heavy fire.

"The Takfiri terrorists suffered a heavy death toll and their military vehicles and equipment sustained major damage after the terrorist group's offensive to take control over the Ithriya-Salamiyah road was fended off by the Syrian government forces," the army said, adding, "The Syrian soldiers detonated the ISIL's bomb-laden suicide cars before they reach to the government forces' positions."

Damascus

The Syrian Army troops and National Defense Forces continued to target the concentration centers of Ahrar al-Sham and al-Nusra Front in Eastern Ghouta and pushed the militants back from more territories there.

The Syrian government forces drove the terrorist groups back from surroundings of Tal Farzat, which ended in the killing of several militants.

The army, meantime, took back several positions near Seyed Sakineh mausoleum and Sharideh square.

The Syrian fighter jets, in several combat flights, pounded the terrorist centers in Harasta al-Qantara axis from al-Marj direction.

The Syrian army's artillery units, for their part, opened retaliatory fire at strongholds of terrorists near Zamalka bridge in Jobar.

Aleppo

A command center of al-Nusra Front in the Southern districts of Dara'a city came under attack by the Syrian military forces, city sources said Sunday, adding that several militants were killed in the attack.

"The Syrian Army troops targeted the command center of al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Nusra Front in Arba'een neighborhood in Dara'a al-Balad, which ended in the killing of at least 15 militants and wounding of several more," the sources said, adding, "Al-Nusra military hardware and ammunition also sustained major damage in the attacks."

Syrian Soldiers, NDF Engage in Fresh Battle with ISIL East of Homs

http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950303000449

"The Syrian government forces carried out a fresh round of anti-ISIL operations near Mistadura gas field in the Northwestern side of the village of Arak," the sources said, adding, "The army resolved to push the ISIL back from the gas fields whose products have been sold in black market by the Takfiri terrorists."

"The Syrian and Russian Air Forces, in several joint combat flights, targeted the ISIL strongholds in Mistadura gas field before the ground forces' offensive to weaken the defense abilities of the terrorists as much as possible," they went on to say.

In relevant developments in the Central province on Sunday, the Syrian military forces and popular fighters stormed the ISIL strongholds near the ancient city of Palmyra (Tadmur) and forced the militants to retreat from at least three key heights in the region.

The Syrian government forces' anti-terrorism operation near Palmyra ended in the recapture of the heights of al-Hari citadel, 619 and 711 in al-Mazar mountain.

At least 18 members of the ISIL were killed and several more were wounded in the attacks.

 

[sToRmR1dR]

Three Explosions Hit Near Bus Station in Syria's Latakia, Victims Reported

http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160523/1040071899/explositons-jabla-syria.html

Syrian Special Forces Datain Suicide Bomber in Latakia's Jabla - Source

http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160523/1040090854/syria-terrorist-jableh.html

Syrian special services on Monday detained a suicide bomber near a hospital in Jabla, in Latakia province, a local security source told Sputnik.

BEIRUT (Sputnik) — Earlier on Monday, seven blasts hit the Mediterranean coastal cities of Jabla and Tartus, killing more than 100 people, according to local police.

“Special forces arrested a suicide bomber who belongs to the terrorist group Ahrar ash-Sham. The terrorist planned to blow himself up near a hospital in Jabla,” the source said.

Media reports suggest Daesh terrorist group has taken responsibility for the attacks.

Damascus in Letters to UN: Latakia Attacks Aimed to Derail Syria Talks

http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160523/1040116249/syria-un-letter.html

The Syrian Foreign Ministry sent letters Monday to the UN chief and the Security Council, condemning the attacks in the cities of Jabla and Tartus in Latakia, claiming they aimed to derail the Syrian peace talks.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Earlier in the day, seven blasts hit the Mediterranean coastal cities of Jableh and Tartus, killing more than 100 people, according to local police. Daesh has reportedly taken responsibility for the attacks.

"These terrorist attacks constitute a dangerous escalation on the part of the regimes of hatred and radicalism in Riyadh, Ankara and Doha, and are directed at derailing efforts to save lives of Syrians, derailing the Geneva talks and the cessation of hostilities," the SANA news agency quoted the letter as saying.

The latest round of Syrian peace talks in Geneva took place on April 13-27. The next round of talks will begin on May 30 in the Swiss city of Montreux.

Syria has been mired in civil war since 2011, with government forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad fighting numerous opposition factions and extremist groups. A US-Russia-brokered ceasefire came into force across Syria on February 27, but it does not apply to terrorist organizations active in the country.

Free Syrian Army Threatens to Withdraw From Ceasefire Regime

http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160523/1040098413/truce-syria-shelling.html

The Free Syrian Army will withdraw from the ceasefire regime if governmental troops continue their offensive against Darayya, a suburb of Damascus, and other besieged areas across Syria, the Free Syrian Army's legal adviser, Osama Abu Zeid, said Monday.

DUBAI (Sputnik) — He added that every associated group would respond to government attacks in line with their capacities.

"If attacks on Darayya and besieged areas across Syria continue and the ceasefire regime is violated throughout the country, all groups associated with the Free Syrian Army and other revolutionary units will withdraw from the political process in 48 hours," Abu Zeid told RIA Novosti, commenting on the ongoing clashes between government troops and rebels in Darayya.

Earlier last week, governmental troops liberated towns of Deir al-Asafir and Zebdin in the eastern outskirts of Damascus.

The parties to the Syrian conflict, which erupted in 2011, laid down their arms on February 27. The ceasefire regime across Syria does not apply to territories under the control of terrorist groups.

Moscow Condemns Terrorist Acts in Syrian Cities of Jabla, Tartus

http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160523/1040097138/moscow-syria-jabla-tartus.html

Moscow has decisively condemned the terrorist acts in the Syrian cities of Jabla and Tartus and believes terrorist acts are aimed at obstructing the ceasefire regime and stonewalling the political settlement in the country, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Earlier on Monday, seven blasts hit the Mediterranean coastal cities of Jabla and Tartus, killing more than 100 people, according to local police.

“We express our deep condolences to the family and relatives of those who died, and to the entire Syrian people, and wish for a quick recovery to those wounded. Yet another bloody act by terrorists on Syrian soil calls for decisive condemnation. It was done with the open goal of obstructing the cessation of hostilities supported in Syria since February 27 and also with the goal of stonewalling the political settlement to the Syrian crisis,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Media reports suggest Daesh terrorist group has taken responsibility for the attacks.

Putin Sends Assad Condolences Over Civilian Deaths in Syria Bomb Attacks

http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160523/1040101158/putin-assad-condolences-tartus.html

A series of terrorist attacks killed over 100 people in the Syrian towns of Jabla and Tartus on Monday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a message to his Syrian counterpart Bashar Assad on Monday, expressing condolences for the loss of over 100 civilian lives in the western Latakia and Tartus provinces, the Kremlin press service said.

"The Russian leader underscored that this tragedy was further proof of the barbaric and inhumane nature of terrorist groups that are waging a bloody war on the Syrian people," the message circulated by the Kremlin read.

Putin confirmed Russia’s continued support to the Syrian government in its fight against terrorist menace, saying he expected that the perpetrators of bombing sprees in the cities of Jabla and Tartus would be brought to justice.

Washington Pursues Double-Standard Policy Toward al-Nusra Front - Official

http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160523/1040101863/us-nusra-russia.html

Washington is conducting double-standard policies by refusing to fight jointly with Moscow against al-Nusra Front terrorists in Syria, Deputy Secretary of Russia's Security Council Yevgeny Lukyanov said Monday.

GROZNY (Sputnik) — Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said last Friday that Moscow had proposed to Washington to conduct joint airstrikes against al-Nusra Front and other terrorist groups refusing to respect ceasefire in Syria. Washington has so far rejected Moscow's proposal.

"They have received our proposal but refused it…It is their position," Lukyanov said ahead of a high-level international security meeting in southern Russia.

According to Lukyanov, US actions in relation to international terrorists in Syria attest to "rather basic" double-standard policies regularly conducted by Washington.

'US Wants to Balkanize Syria and Create Sectarian States in the Country'

http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160523/1040114352/syria-nato-balkanization.html

The head of US Central Command General Joseph Votel has secretly visited Syria. The news of the visit appeared only after Votel had returned to the US. Investigative journalist and political activist Vanessa Beeley told Radio Sputnik about the true goals of General Votel’s visit to Syria.

“Votel is a very high-ranking if not the highest-ranking General and therefore he will be allowed into the most secure areas, which suggests that in a sense the enclave has become a US base inside Syria which is already an illegal action to set up a military base inside sovereign territory.”

Beeley further said that fundamentally over the past five years all regime change projects have failed.

“We started with the democratic revolution which was supported by NATO, the US and the gulf which is being exposed for what it really is: a farce. Then we had the sectarian argument that they were protecting minorities when in reality it has been proven that the Syrian government and the Syrian Arab Army is the only life insurance for the minorities on the ground in Syria under attack by the US, NATO proxy terrorist factions.”

The journalist said that right now there is a push for Plan B, which has always been Plan A, which is to balkanize and create a sectarian state within Syria to undermine and fragment the unity of the Syrian people.

“This is basically a separatist movement that they are creating with YPG, which we know consists of predominantly Kurdish factions, probably 80 to 90%, with very little Arab inclusion in there. So it is very clear that it is an attempt to create a shadow state inside Syria. We see the UK funding the so-called Free Syrian Police.”

“The Canadian and Qatari governments are funding the local administration council so it is trying to divert government away from the Syrian government itself. The undercover UK foreign office and CIA outsource mercenaries under the guise of humanitarians, such as, The White Helmets. So there are other boots on the ground in Syria.”

According to the journalist, all of this is to achieve regime change in Syria and also to “balkanize Syria and create sectarian states in the country.”

Talking about the recent deadly attacks in the Syrian cities of Tartus and Latakia, Beeley said, “According to reports coming from Latakia, the attack was carried out by Ahrar ash-Sham. I have been told that this is probably one of the worst suicide attacks of the five years of the war against Syria.”

“If Ahrar ash-Sham is responsible for these attacks then that directly puts the US in line for being accused of criminal terrorism in Syria. They have consistently supported Ahrar ash-Sham as being ‘moderates’ and when they refused to allow Russia to designate Ahrar ash- Sham and Daesh as terrorist organizations, we had a massacre in the area around Hama and Homs.”

“How many massacres have to be carried out against the Syrian people before the international community turns around and accuses the United States of the terrorism that they are perpetrating in a sovereign nation? Beeley stressed.

New Yars ICBM is Russia’s Answer to NATO’s First-Strike-Enabling Missile Shield (Video)

http://russia-insider.com/en/politics/new-yars-icbm-russias-answer-natos-first-strike-enabling-missile-shield-video/ri14505

The Cold War doctrine of Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD) ensured that neither side had an incentive to use nuclear weapons, as doing so would result in the other side’s nuclear response, resulting in mutually assured destruction, hence the apposite abbreviation, MAD.

This strategic balance during the Cold War meant that nuclear war was unthinkable. But the development of a missile shield, particularly following the end of the Cold War, meant that nuclear war could now start to become thinkable. If one side could use nuclear weapons without having to worry about the other side responding in kind, then the resulting destruction would not be mutual. The use of nuclear weapons against a nuclear-armed opponent would no longer be MAD.

Russia has been watching with mounting concern not only NATO’s encroachment on Russia’s traditional sphere of interest (after having promised not to do so), but its determination to place its missile-shield elements right on Russia’s borders, to provide the best chance of intercepting a retaliatory response. Such systems can only serve one purpose: to nullify Russia’s nuclear deterrent and thereby allow NATO a nuclear first strike.

In response to this looming threat, Russia has been focussing on nuclear missiles that can penetrate NATO’s missile shield, and therefore deter NATO, such as the Bulava SLBM and the Topol and Topol-M road-mobile ICBMS, and now the Yars as successor to the Topol-M.

These inter-continental ballistic missiles seek to launch very fast, thereby limiting the vulnerable launch phase, then fly on an unpredictable trajectory, to make interception difficult, then in the terminal phase, not only engage in evasive maneuvers, but release multiple re-entry vehicles (MIRVs), while doing all this at a blistering speed. Moreover, these missiles are not silo-based but mobile, the Bulava being anywhere in the vast oceans, and the Yars being anywhere within Russia’s vast hinterland, thereby making them more survivable in the event of a NATO first strike.

But NATO nevertheless continues to surround Russia with its first-strike-enabling missile shield. Because, it seems, it no longer thinks nuclear war is MAD. Because, it seems, it no longer thinks Russia offers a credible nuclear deterrent. It probably thinks these sophisticated missiles will not penetrate their missile shield. Probably.

Daesh Prepares for Underground War as Loss of Captured Territory Looms

http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160523/1040115356/daesh-raqqa-underground-war.html

Daesh is bracing itself for a stateless existence, admitting it lacks the resources to hold onto territory it captured in Syria and Iraq, and is discussing its reorganization as an underground terrorist force, the private intelligence firm Soufan Group said in a report on Monday.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The report bases its conclusions on an audio message by Daesh spokesman Abu Mohammed al-Adnani that was released over the weekend.

"Al-Adnani’s statement that the Islamic State [Daesh] does not ‘fight to keep territory’ undercuts the group’s current raison d’être," the report stated. "As a self-professed caliphate, the Islamic State is fighting battles it knows it cannot ultimately win, including the upcoming battles for Raqqa and Mosul."

Raqqa serves as Daesh’s de facto capital in Syria and Mosul as its capital in Iraq.

The report argued that Daesh’s spokesman meant what he said; the group would suffer losses, but would return underground until the situation was ready for the terrorist group to retake lost territory.

A main attraction for tens of thousands of foreigners who traveled to Syria and Iraq to join Daesh has been the group’s control of territory, and its establishing a caliphate there ruled by Sharia law.

Syrian Army Discovers Network of Several-Floor Tunnels East of Damascus

http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950303001110

"Following the Syrian government forces' advances against the terrorist groups in Eastern Ghouta, mainly in its Southern part, the Syrian soldiers discovered a chain of long tunnels with several floors once used by the militants as their weapons and ammunition depots or hideouts for their commanders," the sources said.

"There are some rooms in the tunnels, which were used by the terrorists as command centers," the sources said.

"The pro-government forces have launched to defuse several bombs at the entrances of the tunnels to transfer ammunition to safer areas," the sources added.

Last week, the Syrian army units blew up a tunnel dug by the al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Nusra Front in the suburb of the capital Damascus, killing the entire militants inside.

The 400-meter-long tunnel, dug in Qudsiyeh Damascus' suburb by al-Nusra terrorists, was detonated by the Syrian army.

Detonation of the tunnel inflicted major losses on the terrorists.

The tunnel enjoyed a storage room, ventilation pipes and other necessary equipment.

Military Source: Armed Groups Call for Reconciliation with Syrian Army to Fight Al-Nusra Front

http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950303000951

"The militant groups in the old part of Aleppo city have asked for reconciliation with the Syrian government and joint the country's army to confront the Al-Nusra Front," a military source told FNA on Monday.

He said now that the residents of the old Aleppo city have voiced their readiness to join the army, the Syrian government troops can launch their attacks on Al-Nusra Front's military positions in the old Aleppo city.

The ceasefire regime brokered by Russia and the United States on February 22 officially came into effect in Syria at midnight Damascus time on February 27.

This does not cover terrorist groups such as ISIL and al-Nusra Front and other groups recognized as terrorist by the United Nations Security Council.

An hour before the ceasefire came into force, the United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution in support of the cessation of hostilities in Syria. The document was initiated by Russia and the United States and won support from all the 15 members of the United Nations Security Council.

But the armed opposition and terrorist groups have repeatedly violated the ceasefire ever since it started. Russia has warned that it will bomb all such groups that have seemingly accepted the ceasefire but are violating it.

Syrian Armed Forces Hit Jeish Al-Fatah Positions Heavily South of Aleppo

http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950303000564

"The Syrian government forces gathered their fighters near Tal Arabaeen and Tal Zazin and launched large-scale attacks on positions of Jeish al-Fatah near al-Eis and Kahn Touman, which claimed the lives of tens of the terrorists and forced them to pull the remaining pockets of their forces from the battlefield," the sources said.

"Jeish al-Fatah further retreated towards hills in the region," the sources said, adding, "The Syrian fighter jets, for their part, bombed heavily the concentration centers of Jeish al-Fatahin al-Zarbeh, al-Eis, Khan Touman, al-Khalediyeh and Aleppo-Damascus highway."

"The recent operations of the Syrian armed forces South of Aleppo decreased significantly the military and logistic abilities of Jeish al-Fatah in the region. The army also gained control over several small towns in Southern Aleppo," the sources said.

Earlier this month, the Syrian Army troops and the country's military aircraft struck the terrorist groups' bases and positions in the Southern and Northern territories of Aleppo province, slowing down the militants' movements across the battlefield.

The Syrian fighter jets carried out several combat flights over the territories under the control of the terrorists and targeted their gatherings heavily near Handarat camp, road of Castillo and al-Canadi hospital, which claimed the lives of tens of the militants.

The Syrian army and its popular allies, meantime, stormed the terrorist groups' strongholds near Khan Touman in the Southern part of the province, which destroyed the militants' military hardware in large scale.

The Syrian government forces also engaged in sporadic clashes with the militant groups near al-Tamoureh in the Northern territories of Aleppo province, inflicting major losses of them.

Militants Surrender to Syrian Army in Damascus Countryside

http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950303001348

"A large number of opponents of (President Bashar) Assad have surrendered to the Syrian army," a Syrian army commander, speaking on condition of anonymity, told FNA on Monday.

The commander noted that several militants from Daraya who are willing to lay down weapons have called for mediation to surrender themselves to the Syrian troops stationed near Daraya town.

Earlier on Monday, the Syrian troops destroyed the military positions of Takfiri terrorists in several regions in Douma, Zamalka and Daraya, and killed more than 14 terrorists and destroyed their weapons and munitions.

Also in Damascus province on Tuesday, tens of terrorists were killed in fierce clashes between the Syrian army and the militant groups along the Damascus-Homs highway.

"The Syrian army expanded its control on the Eastern side of the Damascus-Homs Highway in Harasta," sources living in nearby regions said.

"The army took full control over the farms along the road connecting Nour al-Sham school and Douma at the end of the clashes," they added.

Meantime, military sources said tens of dead bodies have been left behind by the terrorist groups, while dozens more have been wounded or captured.

On Sunday, the Syrian army won back new areas in Marj al-Sultan village in another phase of its growing mop-up operations in Eastern Ghouta in Damascus province.

Dozens of Takfiri terrorists were killed in the military operations as the Syrian soldiers regained control over new areas in Marj al-Sultan village.

Prior to the ground operation, the Syrian air force conducted 6 bombing raids over the region. Dozens of Takfiri terrorists were killed in the air force and ground operations.

On Saturday, the army units captured all farms to the North of Marj al-Sultan village and headed for the villages of Harasta al-Qantara and Nuleh.

The Syrian army also destroyed at least three military positions of Takfiri terrorists in the surrounding areas of Marj al-Sultan Airport as the Syrian troops still continue their advances in Eastern Ghouta.

 

[macyk]

_https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xSH5HiNLT0

Putin use some kabbalah\pagan slav talismans?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_string_(Kabbalah)

A scarlet thread, tied about the wrist, is mentioned in Genesis 38. Tamar becomes pregnant by her father-in-law, Judah, and gives birth to twin boys. The following verses about this event are taken from the King James Bible:

Genesis, chapter 38:
27 - And it came to pass in the time of her travail, that, behold, twins were in her womb.
28 - And it came to pass, when she travailed, that the one put out his hand: and the midwife took and bound upon his hand a scarlet thread, saying, This came out first.
29 - And it came to pass, as he drew back his hand, that, behold, his brother came out: and she said, How hast thou broken forth? this breach be upon thee: therefore his name was called Pharez.
30 - And afterward came out his brother, that had the scarlet thread upon his hand: and his name was called Zarah.

 

[angelburst29]

The leaders of al-Nusra Front terrorist group are finishing forming a group of 6,000 militants to block the Syrian army in the province of Aleppo with an offensive from the south, the head of the Russian Reconciliation Center said Monday.

Al-Nusra Front Forms 6,000-Strong Group to Block Syrian Army in Aleppo
http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160523/1040122219/russia-nusra-front-aleppo.html

The escalation of the situation in Syria is linked to al-Nusra Front leaders and groups allied wiith them to derail the reconciliation process in the country, the head of the Russian Reconciliation Center said Monday.

"The escalation of the situation in a number of Syrian regions is, before all, linked to the aim of the leaders of al-Nusra Front and groups allied with it to derail the process of reconciliation of the sides," Lt.-Gen. Sergei Kuralenko said in a statement.

"In the Aleppo region, al-Nusra Front leaders are finishing forming an assault group totaling over 6,000 militants in order to block the government troops in the city with a strike from the east, while in the north they seek to cut off access to the city of Nubl."

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said last Friday that Moscow had proposed to Washington to conduct joint airstrikes against al-Nusra Front and other terrorist groups refusing to respect ceasefire in Syria. Washington has so far rejected Moscow's proposal.

Russia calls on all sides that have joined Syrian ceasefire to respect their commitments and withdraw from areas controlled by фд-Nusra Front as the Russian aircraft will continue airstrikes against this terrorist group.

The head of the Russian Reconciliation Center called for introducing the “silent period” in Syria’s Eastern Ghouta and Darayya for three days starting on Tuesday.

More than 148 people were killed on Monday in bombings claimed by the Islamic State group in northwestern Syria, the deadliest attacks yet in the regime's coastal heartland.

IS blasts in Syria regime heartland kill more than 148
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/is-blasts-in-syria-regime/2810604.html

Seven near-simultaneous explosions targeted bus stations, hospitals and other civilian sites in the seaside cities of Jableh and Tartus, which until now had been relatively insulated from Syria's five-year civil war.

The unprecedented attacks on strongholds of President Bashar al-Assad's regime came as IS faces mounting pressure in both Syria and Iraq, where Baghdad's forces on Monday launched a major offensive to retake the militant-held city of Fallujah.

A hundred people were killed in Jableh and another 48 in Tartus to the south, at least eight of them children, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group.

Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman said they were "without a doubt the deadliest attacks" on the two cities since the start of the war.

IS claimed the blasts via its Amaq news agency, saying its fighters had attacked "Alawite gatherings" in Jableh and Tartus, referring to the minority sect from which Assad hails.

Islamabad summoned US Ambassador to Pakistan David Hale over a recent drone strike on the country's territory, the Pakistani Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Pakistan Summons US Ambassador Over Drone Strike Against Taliban Leader
http://sputniknews.com/asia/20160523/1040121453/strike-drone-pakistan-us.html

On Saturday, Washington carried out the drone strike killing Afghan Taliban chief Mullah Mansour near a remote southwestern Pakistani town near the Afghanistan's border. Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif slammed the strike as a violation of the country's sovereignty.

"In the meeting, Mr. Tariq Fatemi pointed out that the drone strike was a violation of Pakistan's sovereignty and a breach of the United Nation's Charter that guarantees the inviolability of the territorial integrity of its member states. He also emphasized that such actions could adversely impact the ongoing efforts by the Quadrilateral Coordination Group (QCG) for facilitating peace talks between the Afghan Government and the Taliban," the statement read.

The foreign ministry stressed that Pakistan and the United States had been closely coordinating the anti-terrorist fight and the coordination had to be further maintained.

Pakistan has accused the US of violating its sovereignty following a US drone strike that killed the leader of the Afghan Taliban in an area just inside Pakistan’s border.

US Accused of 'Violating Pakistani Sovereignty' in Taliban Drone Strike
http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160523/1040091335/us-pakistan-taliban-airstrike.html

US President Barack Obama confirmed Mullah Akhtar Mansour, the leader of the Afghan arm of the Taliban, had been killed in the strike, labelling the death "an important milestone" in the fight against the group.

While Obama justified the US intervention, saying Mansour had "continued to plot against and unleash attacks on American and coalition forces," the drone strike, which was conducted inside Pakistani territory, angered officials in Islamabad.

Recordings detail a conversation involving leading officials in the Brazilian government, seeking a way to end a criminal corruption probe entangling dozens of the country’s political figures.

Leaked Tapes Expose Coup Plot Against Brazil’s Dilma Rousseff
http://sputniknews.com/latam/20160524/1040126596/dilma-temer-petrobras-coup-impeachment.html

On Monday, Brazilian newspaper Folha de Sao Paulo revealed a recording of a conversation between the country’s planning minister Romero Juca and Sergio Machado, former CEO of state-owned oil company Petrobras subsidiary Transperto, calling for a carefully orchestrated and arguably-legal coup against Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff.

The conversation centered on "changing" the government to "stop the bleeding" revealed by the so-called Car Wash investigation into Petrobras’ corrupt practices. Both men are being actively investigated for corruption under the probe, and Juca resigned from his position on Monday.

The leaked conversations feature Juca contemplating a possible Michel Temer government, with a condition that the ongoing probe be dissolved. This conversation took place just weeks before Rousseff was suspended from her post amid impeachment proceedings.

The official conspired with other prominent Brazilians to oust the sitting president, in order to distract attention away from an ongoing corruption probe in which he was implicated.

Brazilian Minister Romero Juca Steps Down After Being Traced to Coup Plot
http://sputniknews.com/news/20160523/1040125441/romero-juca-brazil-coup-dilma.html

On Monday, Brazil’s Planning Minister Romero Juca announced that he will step down in the wake of released tapes implicating him and former Petrobras subsidiary Transperto President Sergio Machado in plotting a coup against Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, only weeks before impeachment proceedings against the country’s embattled president began.

The two officials discussed "changing" the government in order to "stop the bleeding" associated with the Car Wash Corruption probe, in which both Juca and Machado were implicated. The two believed that, with the ouster of President Rousseff and the formation of a Temer-led government, the possibility existed to reach a “national pact” to terminate the ongoing corruption probe.

Acting Brazilian president Michel Temer's government faced its first major crisis on Monday when a key minister stepped aside following a leaked recording in which he appears to discuss using the impeachment of Dilma Rousseff to derail a huge corruption probe.

Corruption scandal throws Brazil's interim government into disarray
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/corruption-scandal-throws/2810856.html

BRASILIA: Acting Brazilian president Michel Temer's government faced its first major crisis on Monday (May 23) when a key minister stepped aside following a leaked recording in which he appears to discuss using the impeachment of Dilma Rousseff to derail a huge corruption probe.

Planning Minister Romero Juca said in a hurried appearance before television cameras that he would step aside starting Tuesday. Although he did not resign, he was not expected to return, the Globo news site reported, quoting sources close to Temer.

The scandal threatened Temer just 11 days after taking power from Rousseff, who was suspended from the presidency on May 12 by the Senate for the start of an impeachment trial on charges of breaking government accounting rules.

Juca, who is Temer's right-hand man, had been due to help lead the team asking Congress to approve urgent - and potentially controversial - measures aimed at pulling Brazil out of recession.

The Folha newspaper released what it said were recordings of conversations in March between Juca and Sergio Machado, a former oil executive. The recordings were allegedly made secretly by Machado who, like Juca, is a target of a probe into massive embezzlement centered on state oil company Petrobras.

Pomerania Development Agency issued a report on potential losses the region may bear as result of the construction of a US missile defense system in the village of Redzikowo and concluded that this amount is likely to exceed 760 million dollars, according to Business Insider Polska.

Poland to Lose Over $760 Million due to Construction of US Missile Shield
http://sputniknews.com/europe/20160523/1040121294/poland-us-missile-shield.html

The Agency recalled that in 2007 the municipal authorities were planning to build a new airport in the area, but plans changed in 2008 when the Polish-American agreement on the construction of the base was signed.

According to the report, the money won't go into the country's budget due to the absence of property taxes and income taxes as well as restrictions on investments in the region. In addition, restrictions apply not only to the territory of the base, but also to the surrounding area within a radius of 35 kilometers.

The local government also stressed that the region won't be able to develop its potential in the field of wind energy: it already has six farms with a total of 107 turbines, but further development is restricted by the military, the newspaper wrote.

According to the mayor of the Polish city of Slupsk, Robert Biedron, local residents were promised a number of privileges in exchange for the placement of a missile defense system, but those have not yet been implemented.

The promised compensation included the construction of a highway, a second railway track and the expansion of the port in the city of Ustka. "None of them have been implemented, but we hope that Prime Minister Beata Szydlo's government will invite us to the [negotiation] table," Bedron said.

At the same time, the report also highlighted benefits of the defense system's construction, referring to a strategic partnership with the United States as well as the emergence of new jobs upon the completion of the project.

Moscow is concerned over the escalation of political crisis in Venezuela and is ready to join efforts to help opposing political forces in the country to find a compromise, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Monday.

Russia Ready to Help Venezuela Overcome Political Crisis - Foreign Ministry
http://sputniknews.com/politics/20160523/1040118355/russia-venezuela-crisis.html

According to the statement, Moscow welcomes efforts of a number of politicians aimed at finding a compromise between various political forces in Venezuela.

"The development of the situation in Venezuela causes concern. On the background of a complex economic situation, the political struggle there is again threatening to turn into street violence. Unfortunately, the escalation of tensions is being fed from the outside," the ministry said in a statement.

"We are hoping that such efforts will bring positive results. We are ready to join these efforts if it's deemed necessary," the ministry said.


Canadian-Iranian citizen sentenced in US for violating Iran sanctions
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/canadian-iranian-citizen/2811030.html

WASHINGTON: A Canadian-Iranian dual citizen was sentenced in the United States to three years in prison for violating sanctions against Iran, the U.S. Justice Department said on Monday.

Ali Reza Parsa, 45, a resident of Canada, pleaded guilty in January in U.S. District Court in New York and was sentenced on Friday, the department said in a news release.

"Over the course of six years, Parsa repeatedly violated export control laws and aided Iranian entities in procuring high-tech electronic components that have both commercial and military uses," Assistant Attorney General Carlin said.

 

[goyacobol]

_https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xSH5HiNLT0

Putin use some kabbalah\pagan slav talismans?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_string_(Kabbalah)

A scarlet thread, tied about the wrist, is mentioned in Genesis 38. Tamar becomes pregnant by her father-in-law, Judah, and gives birth to twin boys. The following verses about this event are taken from the King James Bible:

Genesis, chapter 38:
27 - And it came to pass in the time of her travail, that, behold, twins were in her womb.
28 - And it came to pass, when she travailed, that the one put out his hand: and the midwife took and bound upon his hand a scarlet thread, saying, This came out first.
29 - And it came to pass, as he drew back his hand, that, behold, his brother came out: and she said, How hast thou broken forth? this breach be upon thee: therefore his name was called Pharez.
30 - And afterward came out his brother, that had the scarlet thread upon his hand: and his name was called Zarah.

macyk,

The video is in Russian so I am not sure what was said but I do see the red string on Putin's right wrist. It does make you wonder what the reason for wearing it means to those wearing it. Maybe we will learn more as we go along. I haven't noticed Putin being superstitious but it does make you wonder why he wore it.

It seems like a kind of superstitious act to ward off evil. I noticed a YouTube video that shows many well known personalities wearing a "red" string.

The Red String

Although many probably do have some beliefs attached to this "red string" I found an excellent video posted by a young Jewish woman that makes a lot more sense.

Beyond the Red String

With all the serious events happening in Syria and around the world I don't know if this is the best thread to discuss " kabbalah\pagan slav talismans" but maybe it could be a separate topic or added to one already started by doing a quick search of the entire forum for "kabbalah" which gives about 78 hits.

 

[sToRmR1dR]

Corruption scandal throws Brazil's interim government into disarray
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/corruption-scandal-throws/2810856.html

Brazil’s Cooperation With BRICS to Remain Unchanged Amid Political Crisis

http://sputniknews.com/politics/20160524/1040133782/brics-brazil-cooperation-crisis.html

Brazil’s collaboration with BRICS will remain the same despite the political instability in the country, Head of Trade and Investment Office at the Embassy of Brazil in the United States told Sputnik.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – When asked whether there are any concerns that the present political situation in Brazil might impact the country’s cooperation with BRICS, Ricardo Daskal Hirschbruch said, "I don't think so. That's something that's on the agenda, and I don't see someone changing that."

"That's a very important cooperation for Brazil. These are major countries. It's the way the world is going forward. I don't see that changing," Hirschbruch stated on Monday on the sidelines of the fourth annual Doing Business with the BRICS conference in Washington.

Brazilian leadership has been facing a wave of public discontent for over a year amid the country’s struggling economy and several major corruption scandals.

Earlier in May, the upper house of the Brazilian parliament voted 55-22 to open impeachment proceedings against President Dilma Rousseff after she was accused of concealing the country’s budget deficit ahead of the 2014 re-election. She was suspended for 180 days and her office was assumed by Vice President Michel Temer, who appointed Meirelles as country's finance minister.

According to the Brazilian O Globo newspaper, Meirelles is expected to take measures to cope with the budget deficit, but needs more time to estimate the real situation with country's public finances.

Meirelles is also due to introduce measures to support economic growth in order to tackle the unemployment in Brazil and to reform the country's pension system, the newspaper added.

BRICS is an association of five developing economies — Russia, China, Brazil, India and South Africa — which comprises over one third of the world’s population. The five nations have a combined nominal GDP equivalent to approximately 20 percent of gross world product.

Olympic Games Unaffected by Political Instability in Brazil – Embassy in US

http://sputniknews.com/sport/20160524/1040133985/brazil-olympics-political-instability.html

The political instability in Brazil will not impact either the preparation for the upcoming Olympic Games or the event itself, Head of Trade and Investment Office at the Embassy of Brazil in the United States told Sputnik.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – Rio de Janeiro will host the Summer Olympic Games in August 2016. A number of world leaders are expected to attend the opening show on August 5.

"We don't see that [the instability may affect the games] because everything is ready on time and on budget. We are just waiting for the final settings." Ricardo Daskal Hirschbruch said on Monday on the sidelines of the fourth annual Doing Business with the BRICS conference in Washington. "Everything is on automatic mode, so it will work. The government won't affect that much the preparation."

Hirschbruch stressed that Brazil will do its best to ensure security during the games.

‘’So, it [uncertainty] won't affect the games at all," he concluded.

Brazilian leadership has been facing a wave of public discontent for over a year amid the country’s struggling economy and several major corruption scandals.

In 2014, corruption schemes in Brazil's state oil and gas company Petrobras were revealed, triggering a wave of discontent in Brazil toward President Dilma Roussef who headed the company in 2003-2010.

The upper house of the Brazilian parliament voted 55-22 earlier in May to start impeachment proceedings against Rousseff after she was accused of concealing the country’s budget deficit ahead of the 2014 re-election. Rousseff regards the impeachment proceedings as a coup attempt.

Roussef has been suspended from office for 180 days, pending trial. Vice President Michel Temer is assuming presidency during that period.

US State Department Maintains 'Risks' Warnings Against Business With Russia

http://sputniknews.com/politics/20160524/1040134996/russia-us-business-sanctions.html

The United States companies still are not advised in doing business with Russia due to Ukraine-related sanctions are in place, US State Department deputy spokesman Mark Toner said Tuesday.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – The United States has not changed its stance that US companies are exposed to economic and "reputational" risk in doing business with Russia as long as Ukraine-related sanctions are in place, US State Department deputy spokesman Mark Toner said Tuesday.

"We continue to be clear in our engagements with US companies that we believe there are risks—both economic and reputational—associated with a return to business as usual with Russia," Toner told RIA Novosti.

The State Department confirmed to Sputnik in late February it had warned American banks that doing "business as usual" with Russia presented certain risks.

On Monday, a Russian banking source told RIA Novosti the country has resumed selling government bonds on the international market with its first Eurobonds yielding 4.65 percent to 4.9 percent annually.

Toner added that Washington has sent a "clear signal" to Moscow through "combined sanctions, restrictive measures, and reduced diplomatic engagement" that it should fulfill its commitments under the Minsk ceasefire deal and end its "occupation" of Crimea.

Crimea reunified with Russia in a March 2014 referendum that saw over 96 percent of the population in favor of seceding from Ukraine.

‘Obama Doctrine’ Aims to Strengthen Smaller Nations Opposing China

http://sputniknews.com/politics/20160524/1040134784/vietnam-obama-doctrine-china.html

President Barack Obama’s announcement on Monday to end the US arms embargo on Vietnam confirms his doctrine of building up nations to oppose China throughout East Asia, former European Union and Agency for International Development (USAID) consultant Paolo von Schirach told Sputnik.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Obama made the announcement during his trip to Hanoi on Monday, the first by a sitting US president.

"This announcement is politically very significant," Schirach stated. "Combined with stronger military connections with the Philippines and Australia, it shows that Washington is willing to shore up smaller powers that do not have the means to face China all by themselves."

The president’s decision "signals to the region that the United States is not passively observing Chinese moves aimed at extending Beijing's sovereignty over the entire South China Sea," Schirach pointed out.

However, Obama did not reveal any specifics about what US weapons systems Vietnam might want to purchase.

"At the moment it is not clear what Vietnam can and will buy from the United States. The estimate is that Hanoi has a shopping list worth about $ 13 billion. This includes attack helicopters, patrol aircraft, combat jets and more."

Shifting from heavy reliance on Russian made equipment to US hardware would not be fast or easy, Schirach acknowledged.

"Therefore, do not expect large orders any time soon. Besides, Vietnam is not that rich. There is only so much they can buy."

Obama’s announcement marked a sharp deviation from previous US policies toward Vietnam, which for more than 20 years had focused on human rights issues rather than military cooperation, Schirach recalled.

"This policy change regarding the arms embargo is entirely about China. In the past, the United States had declared that lifting the old ban on military sales was contingent on Hanoi improving the Vietnamese government's poor human rights record. Now this concern is not so relevant anymore."

Some of the new Chinese installations on islands in the South China Sea were only about 300 miles from Vietnam's coast, Schirach observed.

"Obama's decision to allow arms sales to Vietnam is obviously aimed at sending a signal to Beijing."

If Vietnam in the years ahead strengthens its military and strategic ties with Washington, their joint reaction may change Beijing's calculus regarding how far it can go asserting its military presence in the region without paying any political price, Schirach argued.

However, even if the United States becomes a major new arms supplier to Vietnam, "Do not expect sudden shifts," Schirach cautioned.

It will take years for major weapons orders to be placed in the United States and then delivered, he concluded.

Paolo von Schirach is Professor of International Relations at BAU International University Editor and President of the Global Policy Institute think tank.

Expert: US can begin deliveries of military aircraft to Vietnam

http://ria.ru/world/20160524/1438792820.html

MOSCOW, May 24 -. RIA Novosti After the abolition of weapons the US embargo could begin supplying Vietnam patrol aircraft P-3 Orion and transport aircraft C-130 the Hercules, but a serious competition to Russian armament they make, says expert strategies and Technology Analysis Center Vasily Kashin .

Earlier, US President Barack Obama said that the US government decided to lift the embargo on arms supplies to Vietnam, which were about 50 years old.

"The first thing that will go to Vietnam with the abolition of the embargo, this patrol aircraft P-3 Orion Russian base patrol aircraft ceased to produce in 90 years, now we have nothing in the area to offer Vietnam Second -.. Transport aircraft C-130 Hercules We. does not currently produce aircraft of this category, we have heavier IL-76 ", - he said in an interview with Kashin Sputnik.

He stressed that the P-3 Orion - this is a combat aircraft, which can carry a means of destruction of submarines. The aircraft can detect and hit them, as well as surface and ground targets. But his main goal - exploration.

The expert noted that in Russia as a major arms supplier to Vietnam (93% of all imports of weapons), this decision of the US will not lead to major changes.

"Competition in the Vietnam market is growing without this US decision to Viet Nam's policy to diversify its relations, in particular -. Cooperates with Israel, some EU countries, developing relations with India to Russia Obama's decision changes little.", - He said.

According to Kashin, refocusing on US weapons would cause negative political consequences for Vietnam and Hanoi understand it.

"Vietnam has a policy of precautionary maneuvering between the great powers, so it is important partnership with Russia, because it is not involved in the problem of the South China Sea and is ready to cooperate with all the relations with Russia can not fetter the freedom of political maneuver for Vietnam.", - The expert believes .

Normandy Four leaders discuss situation in Ukraine

http://tass.ru/en/politics/877655

"Vladimir Putin called for an immediate end to the shelling of populated localities in Donbass by Ukrainian Armed Forces," the Kremlin press service said

MOSCOW, May 24. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has had a telephone conversation with Germany’s Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande, and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, the Kremlin press service said.

They discussed political settlement of the situation in the southeast of Ukraine," they report said. "The interlocutors stressed the importance of observing the ceasefire, raising the efficiency of operations of the OSCE’s Special Monitoring Mission in the region, expanding its current scope of powers, and building up the Joint Control and Coordination Center."

"Vladimir Putin called for an immediate end to the shelling of populated localities in Donbass by Ukrainian Armed Forces," the press service said. "The Russian side stressed the need for a direct dialogue between Kiev, on the one hand, and Donetsk and Lugansk, on the other, for the purpose of full-scale and all-embracing implementation of the February 12, 2015, Minsk accords."

Putin indicated that the package of proposals on local elections, the special status, amnesty, and decentralization had been coordinated with the leaderships of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics and it would make sense for the Contact Group in charge of attaining peace settlement of the conflict in eastern Ukraine to scrutinize them, the Kremlin said.

The sides also had an exchange of opinion on possible steps towards resolution of acute social, economic and humanitarian problems in eastern Ukraine. In addition to it, the interlocutors took up some elements of the ongoing crisis in Syria.

Russian, Chinese foreign ministers to discuss Putin's visit to China

http://tass.ru/en/politics/877661

Sergey Lavrov and Wang Yi will meet on the sidelines of a conference of foreign ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization's member-states

TASHKENT, May 24. /TASS/. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov are going to discuss President Vladimir Putin's visit to China scheduled for June, Minister Wang said here on Tuesday on the sidelines of a conference of foreign ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization's member-states.

"I'd like to speak with you about President Putin's forthcoming visit to China so that we could guarantee success of that important visit in view of the fact there will be important top-level negotiations," he said.

Wang Yi also said he planned to discuss with Lavrov the development of bilateral relations, coordination of the two countries' positions, and preparations for the June summit of the SCO.

"Chinese-Russian cooperation plays a leading role in international affairs and we have a very good opportunity to synchronize watches on a range of issues," he said.

Lavrov calls on Washington to differentiate between “Jabhat al-Nusra” and other armed groups

http://sana.sy/en/?p=78159

Moscow, SANA-Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov called on Washington to implement its obligations and separate between Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist organization and other armed groups, supported by the US and depicted as “moderate.”

“Lavrov discussed with his US counterpart John Kerry, in a telephone call, the situation in Syria, including the Russian proposals regarding carrying out joint operations against the terrorist groups and other armed factions which didn’t join the cessation of hostilities agreement,” Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Monday.

The two sides also discussed suggestions on preventing gunmen and weapons from crossing through the Turkish borders into Syria.

Palestine Refuses From Direct Talks With Israel

http://sputniknews.com/politics/20160524/1040134225/palestine-israel-talks-refusal.html

The Palestinian Authority rejected Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s proposal to hold direct talks, Israeli media reported Tuesday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Netanyahu offered direct negotiations on Monday as an alternative to France’s proposal for a multilateral June 3 conference in Paris.

"Direct negotiations with Mr. Netanyahu in the past have proven to be fruitless; why repeat the same mistakes," the Jerusalem Post daily quoted Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah’s director of communications Jamal Dajani as saying.

Dajani added that the Israeli prime minister’s "actions have shown that he's more interested in building illegal settlements than in reaching peace."

Hamdallah is reportedly due to meet French Prime Minister Manuel Valls in Ramallah early Tuesday.

In May, Palestinian Ambassador to Russia Abdel Hafiz Nofal told Sputnik that Palestine welcomes the French plan to hold international ministerial Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations but has some concerns over the participating sides.

In April, French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault announced that the ministers of 20 countries would take part in a meeting in Paris to relaunch the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. Neither Israeli nor Palestinian officials will be attending the event scheduled for June 3.

Palestinians seek diplomatic recognition for their independent state on the territories of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, which is partially occupied by Israel, and the Gaza Strip. Israel has been building settlements on the occupied territories despite objection from the United Nations.

Hamas Aims to Publicly Execute 13 in Gaza Strip

http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160524/1040132203/hamas-public-excecutions.html

The Palestinian organization Hamas will perform a series of executions ‘before a large crowd’ in the Gaza Strip, for the first time since 2014.

The news came from Ismail Jaber, attorney general for the Palestinian enclave.

“Capital punishments will be implemented soon in Gaza,” he told journalists on Sunday. “I ask that they take place before a large crowd.”

According to Hamas official Khalil al-Haya, thirteen men, convicted for murders related to robberies, are currently awaiting the death penalty in the country.

On Sunday, the relatives of those killed by the convicted gathered before Parliament to prompt authorities to accelerate executions, the Times of Israel reported.

“The victims’ families have the right to demand that the punishments be implemented,” Khalil al-Haya said.

The Gaza Strip is not new to the death penalty, which under Palestinian law can be applied to collaborators, murderers and drug traffickers. All decisions on the matter must, however, be ratified by the enclave’s president Mahmoud Abbas.

Since 2007, when Hamas forcibly took control of the Gaza Strip area from Abbas, the group stopped asking permission for executions.

However, Hamas previously handed down capital punishment only to those who spied for Israel and did not perform those executions in public. One exception, during the 2014 Israeli-Palestinian war, saw Hamas’s military shoot seven dead in front of the Gaza City’s primary mosque after Friday prayers. The bodies of those executed were dragged through the city streets.

The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR), reported that nine people were sentenced to death in the Gaza Strip in 2015. That number is 10 for 2016 to date.

Since the foundation of the Palestinian Authority in 1994 some 170 Palestinians have received capital punishment, but only 30 have been executed.

Iran nabs Saudi-sent terrorists: Senior official

http://www.presstv.com/Detail/2016/05/24/467132/Iran-Saudi-Arabia-terrorists-Arbil-Rezaei

Iran has apprehended a number of terrorists tasked by Saudi Arabia with carrying out bombings inside the Islamic Republic, says a senior Iranian official.

Mohsen Rezaei, the secretary of Iran’s Expediency Council, made the announcement in the western Iranian city of Khorramabad on Monday.

“The Saudis opened a consulate in Iraq’s Arbil and had a number of terrorist groups enter into Iran to carry out explosions; they all have been arrested,” he said, referring to the capital of the Iraqi Kurdistan.

“The Foreign Ministry should circulate the documents and evidence pertaining to these groups throughout the world so that at least Muslim countries get to know that Saudis maniacally disturb the region’s calm and secure scene and pursue terror acts.”

He also advised that Iranian authorities stop exercising patience with Riyadh, and act against its acts of instigation.

On Sunday, it was reported that Iran had captured two Daeshis in the country’s western province of Hamadan which borders the Iranian provinces of Kurdistan and Kermanshah near Iraq.

The province’s intelligence director general said the two, both Iranian nationals with links to Daesh, had been caught during two separate intelligence operations while they were en route to Tehran.

Intelligence Minister Mahmoud Alavi announced on Friday that Iran had dismantled more than 20 terrorist groups that had planned to detonate bombs and cause insecurity across the country during the last Persian year which ended on March 19).

On Tuesday, Rezaei warned that a seditious push is underway against the Muslim world, with Wahhabism at its center.

“Wahhabism and Zionism are maniacally acting against the Muslim and resistance front every day,” he said.

“Their last measure was to prevent Iranian pilgrims from going on the Hajj pilgrimage,” he added.

Wahhabism is an extremely intolerant and violent ideology that dominates Saudi Arabia and is freely preached by clerics in the Arab country.

Takfirism, or the practice of accusing others of being “infidels,” which is the trademark practice of Daesh, is a characteristic of Wahhabism.

Last month, Iran said it will not send pilgrims to Hajj this year because Saudi Arabia is refusing to cooperate on arrangements for Iranians to join the annual rituals in September.

Saudi Arabia severed diplomatic relations with Iran on January 3 following attacks on vacant Saudi diplomatic perimeters in Tehran and Mashhad by angry protesters.

The attacks occurred during otherwise peaceful demonstrations in reaction to the Saudi execution of prominent cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr.

Iran arrested some 100 people over the acts of transgression. Iranian officials also strongly condemned the attacks.

US State Department justified the Syrian opposition's intention to withdraw from the armistice

http://www.interfax.ru/world/509723

Moscow. May, 23rd. INTERFAX.RU - Disappointment number of Syrian opposition armed groups and their statements about a possible withdrawal from the truce caused by the actions of government forces, according to the US State Department.

"We understand the frustration of a number of armed groups because of the full non-compliance with (Syrian President Bashar al - IF) Assad truce and make every effort to convince Russia slapped on the Assad regime, to get him to comply fully with the cease-fire and to stop immediately attacks on civilians" - said the "Interfax" on Monday, the US State Department.

He was commenting on the statement of moderate Syrian opposition that within 48 hours it is ready to withdraw from the ceasefire.

According to the agency, in the International Group of Syria's support last week (MTT) has called on all parties to the Syrian conflict to respect fully the terms of the ceasefire, including to stop offensive operations and MTT members pledged to use his influence with the parties to achieve this goal. Meanwhile, according to the opinion of the official agency, the Syrian government violates UN Security Council Resolution 2254 calls for an end the indiscriminate use of weapons and to ensure humanitarian access to all areas of Syria.

"There is a real threat to the ceasefire regime by the actions of fighting in key regions where power is seeking to strengthen its military premuschestvo", - said the representative of the State Department. According to him, "we urge Russia to fulfill its obligations and to use its considerable influence on the Assad regime, insisting on full compliance of the cease-fire."

Earlier Monday, the Free Syrian Army (FSA) said it will come out of the ceasefire in Syria, if within 48 hours the authorities do not stop the attack on the opposition-controlled areas of the country and will be allocated troops to the positions they held prior to May 14 this year.

 

[angelburst29]

Washington is trying to deter any possible alliance between Russia, Turkey and Iran on Syria: if the three countries unite their efforts against the terrorists, the jihadists will easily be defeated and the US will thereby lose its ability to destabilize the region, Iranian political analyst and former journalist Hassan Hanizadeh told Sputnik.

Forbidden Alliance: US Won't Let Russia, Turkey, Iran Unite Against Daesh
http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160524/1040139344/russia-iran-turkey-alliance.html

The US is thwarting any possible alliance between Russia, Turkey and Iran to fight the terrorist groups in Syria, Hassan Hanizadeh, former editor-in-chief of the Iranian news agency MehrNews told Sputnik.

Meanwhile, Washington is using the terrorist groups operating on the ground in Syria as a tool to divide the countries of the region. Thus, the political editor added, the US is interested in keeping relations between Turkey and Russia strained and in stirring tensions between Iran and Turkey.

Washington, he explained, is interested in extending its sphere of influence in the Middle East.

His comments come in reference to the recent remarks of Turkish Armed Forces’ former Chief of Staff Ilker Basbug, who called for cooperation between Russia, Iran and Turkey on Syria.

Russia's envoy to NATO Alexander Grushko stated that the NATO's plan to deploy four NATO battalions in Eastern Europe is a new step for the deterioration of the security level in Europe and the deterioration of the regional security.

NATO Troops Deployment in Europe ‘New Step’ to Worsen Regional Security
http://sputniknews.com/europe/20160524/1040152201/nato-russia-relations.html

The deployment of four NATO battalions in Eastern Europe is a new step toward the deterioration of the regional security, Russia's envoy to NATO Alexander Grushko said Tuesday.

Last month, The Wall Street Journal reported that Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States were preparing to deploy four battalions of about 4,000 troops in the Baltics to counteract the perceived Russian threat.

Can't fix STUPID! The Beltway military punditry floats one of its most inflammatory ideas yet, in
calls for a preemptive strike against Moscow along with calls to bolster America’s missile defense system.

Pentagon-Linked Analysts Push Preemptive Strike on Russia, Missile Defense
http://sputniknews.com/military/20160524/1040128802/pentagon-strike-moscow-obama-putin.html

On Friday, a DC-based think tank issued a report calling for additional funding to advance US missile defense technology to combat what they view as a rising nuclear missile threat from Russia.

Earlier this year, Russian President Vladimir Putin scoffed at Western assertions that Russia poses the preeminent threat to the US and NATO, labeling the idea of an attack against the military alliance "the type of thing that only crazy people think, and only when they are dreaming."

Faced with the need to keep the budget spigot open, a Cold War-inspired Beltway commentariat continues to ratchet up "protective measures" against Moscow’s "aggression," by installing a missile defense system in Romania and constructing another similar missile defense system in Poland. NATO is now considering deploying permanent troops on the border between Poland and Russia, while undertaking a series of costly and polluting military exercises, steps from Russian lands.

The latest war-drum-beating report is provided by the Center for Strategic & Budgetary Assessments, whose scholars Bryan Clark and Mark Gunzinger not only call for spending more money on lasers, railguns, and hypervelocity projectiles, but also posit fail-safe artificial intelligence systems capable of shooting down incoming missiles, again from Russia.

The two note that while existing missile defense systems like the Navy’s Aegis have an automatic mode, the system lacks the kind of sophistication required to counter large incoming salvos. The paper proposed a plan modeled after a pet project of deputy Defense secretary and, coincidentally, a former vice-president of the Center for Strategic & Budgetary Assessments, Bob Work, who has led efforts to combine artificial intelligence with unmanned missile defense.

In addition to calling for widely expanding appropriations to upgrade the US missile defense system against a hypothetical Russian attack threat, the think tank analysts suggest preemptive strikes against Russia, China, or any other nation, in the event diplomatic relations deteriorate.

The two spell out their enhanced rules of engagement in text that clearly violates international law, detailing a "blinding campaign" of coordinated strikes against hostile headquarters, satellites and radar, using cyberattacks, jamming, and long-range bombing, in anticipation of an attack.

Russia has called for a three-day regime of silence in some conflict zones near the Syrian capital Damascus, calling on the US to push militants under its influence to join the truce.

Russia calls for 3-day ‘regime of calm’ near Syria capital
http://www.presstv.com/Detail/2016/05/24/467154/Russia-Syria-daesh-terrorist-war

“In order to stabilize the situation the Russian reconciliation center is calling for a 72-hour regime of silence in Eastern Ghouta and Daraya” starting from Tuesday, said head of the Russian Reconciliation Center in Syria Sergei Kuralenko.

Kuralenko, who was cited by Russian Defense Ministry, also reiterated Moscow’s calls for militants to withdraw from areas controlled by the al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Nusra group.

He said information from Russian monitors and Syrian intelligence shows that al-Nusra has gathered a force of some 6,000 militants in preparation for an offensive in the Aleppo province.

“These conclusions and estimates have been confirmed by non-stop fire on Syrian armed forces in Eastern Ghouta and living quarters in Damascus,” he said.

A top figure from the al-Qaeda-linked Ahrar al-Sham terrorist group has been allowed to pay a visit to the US on a European passport, despite the group’s deadly military campaign in Syria, a report says.

Ahrar al-Sham's top figure visits US without trouble: Report
http://www.presstv.com/Detail/2016/05/24/467143/Syria-US-Ahrar-alSham-alQaeda-Labib-al-Nahhas

Labib al-Nahhas, who calls himself “a chief of foreign political relations at Ahrar al-Sham,” had no trouble entering Washington back in December 2015, the US-based McClatchy DC news network said.

According to the report, he stayed in the US for a few days to speak with “third parties.”

The report, citing four unnamed individuals with direct knowledge of the trip, revealed that Nahhas had been in Washington to meet with lobbyists and Middle East researchers.

“They’re treating Labib al-Nahhas as an individual," said Faysal Itani, a Syria specialist with the Atlantic Council’s Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East.

"They could make, quickly, the decision that he’s persona non grata in the United States and yet they haven’t,” he said.

US authorities, however, declined to comment on whether they knew about the trip, or whether the State Department had facilitated his entry.

State Department spokesman John Kirby did confirm, however, that the US was in contact with a number of what he called Syrian opposition groups, including Ahrar al-Sham.

On May 11, a Russian proposal to the UN to put Ahrar al-Sham on a terror blacklist was blocked by Washington, a decision that was shared by the UK, France and Ukraine.

The Syrian Foreign Ministry sent letters to the UN chief and the Security Council, condemning the attacks in the cities of Jableh and Tartus in Lattakia, claiming they aimed to derail the Syrian peace talks.

Syria: Riyadh, Ankara, Doha Attempting to Derail Peace Talks
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950304000711

"These terrorist attacks constitute a dangerous escalation on the part of the regimes of hatred and radicalism in Riyadh, Ankara and Doha, and are directed at derailing efforts to save lives of Syrians, derailing the Geneva talks and the cessation of hostilities," SANA reported.

Earlier, seven blasts hit the Mediterranean coastal cities of Jableh and Tartus, killing more than 100 people, according to local police. ISIL has reportedly taken responsibility for the attacks.

The latest round of Syrian peace talks in Geneva took place on April 13-27. The next round of talks will begin on May 30 in the Swiss city of Montreux.

The Ahrar al-Sham terrorist group and not the ISIL is responsible for the seven bomb explosions on Monday which rocked the coastal towns of Tartous and Jableh in Lattakia province and left at least 150 people dead and tens of others injured.

Ahrar Al-Sham, Not ISIL, Responsible for Monday Blasts in Lattakia
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950304001226

The ISIL claimed responsibility for the bombings but there are reasons to reject the claim.

The ISIL doesn’t have massive or even a remarkable presence in Lattakia and even if its claims of responsibility for the attacks are proved to be true, the attacks have definitely been the result of its collaboration with Ahrar al-Sham or al-Nusra Front. Then in that case, Ahrar or Al-Nusra have had the major share in the attacks, but asked the ISIL to declare responsibility in a bid to prevent being stuck off from the list of Washington's supported group as the US has openly stated that it doesn’t consider them as terrorist groups yet.

Another reason pointing to Ahrar al-Sham's role in the seven blasts is that the Syrian security forces arrested a suicide bomber concurrently with the Monday attacks who confessed to be a member of Ahrar al-Sham.

Both towns targeted by Monday attacks are close to facilities used by the Russian task force in Syria.

 

[sToRmR1dR]

Deputy chiefs of General Staffs of Russia, China discuss military cooperation in Beijing

http://tass.ru/en/politics/877699

Russia was represented by Chief of the Main Operations Department of the Russian General Staff Lieutenant General Sergey Rudskoy

BEIJING, May 24. /TASS/. The 18th round of strategic dialogue between the Russian Armed Forces and Chinese People’s Liberation Army was held in Beijing today, the Chinese Defense Ministry said on Tuesday.

China was represented by Deputy Chief of the Joint Staff Department of the Central Military Commission Admiral Sun Jianguo, Russia - by Chief of the Main Operations Department of the Russian General Staff Lieutenant General Sergey Rudskoy.

"The sides exchanged their opinions on international and regional situation in the sphere of security, military reforms, as well as cooperation between the Armed Forces of the two countries, and achieved broad consensus," the Chinese Defense Ministry said.

Sun Jianguo said that cooperation between the defense ministries of China and Russia has been actively developing over the last years. "In order to contribute to development of Russian-Chinese relations of strategic partnership, China wants to constantly uncover the potential of cooperation together with Russia, expand cooperation spheres and deepen strategic trust," the military official.

Rudskoy in turn said that Russia and China are effectively cooperating in all spheres. "The consensus reached during this round of strategic dialogue will leads to gradual increase in the level of cooperation between the Armed Forces of the two countries, which will give a new impetus to development of Russian-Chinese relations in general," he said.

FM: China, Russia should speed up linking Eurasian Economic Union, Silk Road Economic Belt

http://tass.ru/en/economy/877722

The Silk Road Economic Belt is a project of creating a transport, energy and trade corridor between the countries of Asia and Europe

TASHKENT, May 24. /TASS/. The governments of Russia and China should speed up the process of linking the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and Silk Road Economic Belt, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Tuesday.

"China and Russia should speed up linking the Silk Road Economic Belt and EAEU, in order to collect early harvest," Wang said on the sidelines of the meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organization) member countries.

The foreign minister noted that Russia and China "maintain close strategic cooperation on international and regional issues, and have become important components of international stability." "Developing the Shanghai Cooperation Organization is an important force of preserving peace," Wang said adding that Russia and China should continue close cooperation in this sphere.

EAEU and Silk Road Economic Belt

On 8 May 2015, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping signed an agreement on cooperation in the framework of the Silk Road Economic Belt project. The agreement envisages "linking" the Eurasian Economic Union and the Silk Road Economic Belt. "In fact, we are talking about entering the new level of partnership in the future that envisages common economic space on the Eurasian continent," Russian President Vladimir Putin said after talks.

The Silk Road Economic Belt is a project of creating a transport, energy and trade corridor between the countries of Asia and Europe. The idea of constructing the Silk Road was put forward by Chinese President Xi Jinping in September 2013.

The name of the project traces back to trade routes of medieval caravans that lay through the territories of modern Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, India, Turkey, Iran and Greece. These routes were later called the "Great Silk Road.".

Russian diplomat: Deploying 3 divisions along border response measure to NATO expansion

http://tass.ru/en/politics/877751

According to Russia’s Permanent Representative at NATO Alexander Grushko, it's only one of the response measures

MOSCOW, May 24. /TASS/. Russia’s decision to deploy three divisions along its western borders is only one of the measures to respond to NATO’s eastward expansion, Russia’s Permanent Representative at NATO Alexander Grushko said on Tuesday.

"The Russian president has repeatedly said that Russia is not interested in confrontation that we will not let anyone drag us into an arms race," the Russian diplomat noted. "As of today, our armed forces, our military technical potential make it possible for us to choose various military technical ways to ensure security and not fall into an arms race spiral."

"Our interests will be reliably protected. The deployment of three divisions is only one of the measures that should be considered in this context," the envoy said during a Moscow-Brussels video link-up.

Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu announced plans to deploy three new divisions along the western border back in January 2016. It became known later that a new motor-rifle unit will be deployed near Rostov-on-Don, and two more - in the Smolensk and Voronezh regions. Each of them will have about 10,000 servicemen.

Division lines

The official said Montenegro’s accession to NATO shows that the alliance’s policy is aimed at creating division lines rather than at ensuring security.

"It is evident that NATO’s enlargement has not improved but has worsened Russia’s relations with the countries that have joined the alliance," Grushko said, adding that statements are already made that Montenegro’s military should take part in efforts on protecting the Baltic states from "an aggressive Russia."

"This is a theater of political absurd," the diplomat stressed. "Amid this the policy of NATO’s enlargement is becoming clear to everyone: it does not meet real security needs but only creates division lines."

"Speaking about the results of a NATO ministerial meeting on May 19-20, nothing unexpected happened in general," he said. "The foreign ministers gave instructions to the defense ministers to work out additional measures on strengthening the Eastern flank. It has already been announced that Great Britain and Germany will take part in these efforts," Grushko added.

Most citizens of Montenegro oppose the country’s accession to the alliance, he reminded. "This is absolutely evident as Montenegro as part of Yugoslavia was bombed (by the bloc)." However, the demands on holding a referendum have been ignored, he said.

"Of course, the subject matter of these decisions is yet to be analyzed," the diplomat went on. "It is obvious that NATO continues along a path towards military buildup in the regions that directly affect Russia’s vital interests. This is a new step towards the worsening of security in Europe and deterioration of regional security," he said.

On May 19, the foreign ministers of 28 NATO member countries signed the Accession Protocol with Montenegro, after which it got an observer status. When the document is ratified, Montenegro will automatically become NATO’s 29th member state.

No consultations held over calling Russia-NATO Council meeting

Grushko pointed out that there have been no consultations over calling a meeting of the Russia-NATO Council.

"No consultations have been held for the time being. Nor any preparations are being made for such a meeting," Grushko said in reply to a question from TASS. "There’ve been no preliminary consultations or requests from NATO, either."

"We’ve taken note of what NATO’s secretary-general and French and German foreign ministers said about the alliance’s broad consent regarding the feasibility of holding a meeting of the Russia-NATO Council ahead of the NATO summit in Warsaw," he added.

US facilities capable of intercepting Russian strategic missiles — envoy

http://tass.ru/en/politics/877765

US missile defense facilities in Europe are already capable of intercepting Russian delivery vehicles, Russia’s envoy to NATO says, the situation will get still worse in 2018

MOSCOW, May 24. /TASS/. US missile defense facilities in Europe are already capable of intercepting Russian delivery vehicles, Russia’s envoy to NATO Alexander Grushko said in a Moscow-Brussels video conference.

"According to our military analysts, even the current configuration of facilities stationed at Deveselu is capable of intercepting Russian strategic delivery vehicles," he said. "The situation will get still worse in 2018, when the facility in Poland is up and running. This poses obvious risks to Russia’s security and seriously distorts strategic stability, which has for decades been the pillar of peace and security globally."

Grushko said that Russia would be taking all retaliatory measures in view of the emerging risks.

The Romanian military base in Deveselu (Olt County, in the south of the country 180 kilometers away from Bucharest) on May 12 saw an inaugural ceremony timed for the commissioning of the US ground missile defense complex Aegis. The missile defense base takes up an area of 175 hectares. It consists of a radar, a missile defense control center and mobile batteries of MK-41 launchers with SM-3 interceptor missiles (Standard-3). NATO’s Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg officially declared the defense complex was operational.

Daesh in EU: Armed, Dangerous and Operating Without Detection

http://sputniknews.com/europe/20160524/1040164546/daesh-europe-explosives-stockpile.html

Concerns are growing that Islamist terrorists are infiltrating refugee groups in Europe and "stockpiling explosives" in the Western Balkans and in some EU member states, according to Europol.

Manuel Navarrete Paniagua, counterterrorism chief for Europol, the EU's law enforcement agency, told members the European Parliament Committee on Civil Liberties that "secondary checks at the member state level, especially in Greece and Italy," are essential.

"We have some information reported by the member states that terrorist groups are trying to establish large clandestine stockpiles of explosives in the European Union to be used eventually in large scale home attacks," Paniagua said during a recent debate.

The same people forced by terrorists to flee their country and become refugees are being exploited by terrorists who are now "using them to infiltrate the EU," according to Paniagua, who told MEPs he had heard unconfirmed reports that Daesh militants have established training camps in the Western Balkans and EU member states.

Paniagua told MEPs that Europol officers have been deployed at hotspots on four Greek islands and on Sicily to spot potential terrorists.

"However, member states are in charge and they decide what to do with any suspects."

There is no specific data on the number of terrorists who have infiltrated the European Union through migration flows, but Paniagua says Europol is aware "that they are doing so."

'Fragmentation Makes Us Vulnerable'

Meanwhile, concerns remain over the number of so-called homegrown jihadists who have fled Europe to Iraq and Syria to train with extremists with the intention of returning to Europe to carry out terrorist-related attacks.

According to a report in German newspaper Die Welt, only 2956 EU citizens have been registered by Europol as having travelled to Iraq or Syria to become of foreign fighters; but the number is more like 5,000.

During a recent meeting of European interior ministers in Luxembourg, Dimitris Avramopoulos, EU migration, home affairs and citizenship commissioner said that the gap in the figures suggested that not all member states are feeding enough information into the common database, allowing "dangerous individuals to get away without being detected."

Avramopoulos said there are too many different EU databases which are not linked up into one system and suggested that there should be just one database to exchange information among member states.

"Fragmentation makes us vulnerable," Avramopoulos said.

It's estimated that 6,000 people from Europe have becoming foreign fighters in Iraq and Syria; the majority of them leaving France, Germany and the UK.

Operation Raqqa: Full Scale Assault Begins to Liberate Daesh’s Capital City

http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160524/1040165746/syria-raqqa-liberation.html

A representative of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) has told Sputnik Turkey that the SDF has launched a large-scale three-pronged offensive to liberate Syria’s third-largest city Raqqa, which has been the ‘capital’ city of Daesh terrorists for over 2.5 years.

Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Tuesday began a massive three-pronged offensive on Raqqa, Daesh the self-proclaimed capital in Syria and the third-largest city in the country.

The offensive began simultaneously from three flanks under the command of Ehrar Rakka and Liva Tahrir units which are comprised of Raqqa residents and are part of the SDF. Up to 12,000 fighters are reported to be taking part in the operation.

Tackır Kobani, a representative of SDF has told Sputnik that, part of the operation, the forces are launching an offensive from Eyn İssa settlement under aerial coverage of the US-led anti-terrorist coalition forces, which are conducting massive air strikes on Daesh positions in the region.

Syrian Democratic Forces are also conducting air strikes on Daesh positions in the north of Raqqa, using heavy armaments.

Other reports suggest that fighters of the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) are also taking part in the operation.

Earlier on Monday, member of political division of the Social-Nationalist Party of Syria, Tariq al-Ahmad geopolitically compared the planned liberation of Raqqa to the capture of Berlin during World War II.

“In general, I believe that Raqqa is symbolic due to the presence of Daesh and it is declared as their capital by them. Taking back Raqqa can be compared with the capture of Berlin in World War II. I say this in a political and geopolitical sense,” al-Ahmad said.

Russia ready to coordinate efforts with US-led coalition on liberating Raqqa — FM

http://tass.ru/en/politics/877786

According to the Russian foreign minister, Russia and the United States have agreed to switch over from information exchange to coordination of their anti-terrorism efforts

TASHKENT, May 24. /TASS/. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said Russia is ready to coordinate efforts with US-led coalition and Kurdish forces in Syria to liberate Raqqa.

"I cannot say whether reports that such actions have already started are true, but we are ready for coordination - that I can confirm," Lavrov said on Tuesday commenting on the statement of a representative of the Kurdish Democratic Union Party that soon an active phase an offensive at Raqqa will start with participation of Kurds, the United States and Russia.

"Raqqa is one of the aims of the anti-terrorist coalition, just like Iraq’s Mosul. We are confident that these cities could have been liberated more effectively and faster if our military officials (of Russia and US) would have started coordinating their actions much earlier," the foreign minister noted.

"There is a chance now that such coordination will take place. We think that Russian Aerospace Defense Forces and US-led coalition’s aviation should work synchronously, in coordination, and help those on the ground to really resist terrorist units. First of all, among them [forces on the ground] are, of course, armed forces of the Syrian Arab Republic, and, of course, different groups of Kurdish forces, including the armed part of the Democratic Union Party," Lavrov said.

Russia, US agree to coordinate their anti-terrorism efforts

According to the minister, Russia and the United States have agreed to switch over from information exchange to coordination of their anti-terrorism efforts, practical aspects of these issues are now being discussed by the two countries’ military.

"We have agreed with our American partners, not overnight but through clearing up their doubts and reflections and even overcoming their resistance, to finally switch over from information exchange to coordination of anti-terrorism efforts. Practical aspects of these issues are now being looked at by our defense ministries. As you know, full-time communications channels have been established between the Russia airbase at Khmeimim and U.S. representatives in the Jordanian capital city. There is a direct Moscow-Washington link. Naturally, we have the Geneva-based round-the-clock Russian-U.S. center for Syria truce monitoring," Lavrov told journalists.

 

[angelburst29]

There are no casualties among personnel of the Russian base in Syria, the Russian Defense Ministry stated on Tuesday.

Daesh Propaganda Fail: Moscow Slams 'Fake' Reports of Attack on Syria Base
http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160524/1040164121/russia-syria-airbase-hmeymim.html

The Russian Defense Ministry categorically denied on Tuesday reports of alleged destruction of Russian helicopters operating in Syria and casualties among the personnel of the Russian airbase near Syria's Latakia.

Earlier in the day, US-based intelligence analysis company Stratfor said in a report that Daesh jihadists possibly destroyed four Russian Mi-24 attack helicopters in an artillery attack on an airbase in Syria. The firm cited satellite imagery it acquired.

"All Russian combat helicopters in Syria carry out planned tasks aimed at eliminating terrorists. There are no casualties among personnel of the Russian base," the ministry's spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said.

Konashenkov stressed that rumors of alleged destruction of an entire unit of Russian combat helicopters and two dozen of trucks at the Hmeymim airbase originated from Daesh terrorists who fruitlessly attempted to "sell" this so-called "breaking news" some 10 days ago.

According to Stratfor, the attack on the airbase, located in the Homs province near the city of Palmyra, occurred on May 14. On the same day, the Daesh group, which is outlawed in Russia and many other countries, claimed that its militants had destroyed four Russian attack helicopters and 20 trucks loaded with ammunition.

Islamabad will ramp up security in Balochistan, possibly providing cover to the remaining elements of the Taliban still present in the province, attempting to shield them from further US drone strikes, according to the US-based intelligence analysis company Stratfor.

Pakistan to ‘Ramp Up’ Security to Shield Taliban From US Drone Strikes
http://sputniknews.com/asia/20160524/1040178987/us-pakistan-taliban-mansour.html

Pakistan will enhance security to protect the Taliban against further US drone strikes in the wake of an attack that killed the movement’s leader, the US-based intelligence analysis company Stratfor said on Tuesday.

On Monday, President Barack Obama confirmed Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour was killed in a US drone strike carried out in Pakistan on Saturday. Islamabad said Washington’s unauthorized attack violated the country’s sovereignty.

"Islamabad will also ramp up security in Balochistan, possibly providing cover to the remaining elements of the Taliban still present in the province, attempting to shield them from further US drone strikes," Stratfor stated in an analysis.

As Montenegro is slated to become yet another NATO member state, some military experts suggest that the Alliance won’t stop until it swallows up all of Europe; while others note that few states are now wishing to contribute to NATO’s announced priority of “deterring Russia.”

NATO’s Anti-Russian Ambitions Meet Resistance From Within the Alliance
http://sputniknews.com/europe/20160524/1040157940/nato-europe-expansion.html

NATO’s initial plan to step up its so-called “deterrence of Russia” was set to create a force of about 4,000 troops, a battalion for Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland.

However just recently Washington informed the Alliance that it is sending only one battalion to the European eastern flank, instead of the planned two.

Germany and the UK have volunteered to provide a battalion each.

Undisclosed US military sources revealed to the Wall Street Journal that America’s European allies should form the fourth battalion themselves, in order to play a “greater role in their own defense.”

President Barack Obama has complained that European powers are “free-riders on US defense spending.”

“But there is a problem. So far, there are no further European takers,” the newspaper states.

The outlet notes that the Alliance is pushing Norway and Denmark to team up, however both seem to be reluctant.

Norway objects that it already has its own border with Russia that it “must pay more attention to” and “potentially reinforce further”, while Denmark says it is somewhat “considering a contribution,” but that it will not be a “framework nation.”

“NATO remains divided on the importance of reinforcing its eastern border,” the newspaper says.

“The allies most concerned about Russia are the ones in the east. Many western and southern allies are more focused on the threat of Islamic State.”

Military expert Sergei Ermakov also noted that the Alliance is far from being monolithic on the issue.

NATO has some certain [financial] gaps and it needs all the member states to pool together some funds for the defense to be able to deploy the necessary infrastructure on Russia’s borders.”

“And from the point of view of NATO servants and bureaucrats, there is no limit to NATO’s expansion eastwards,” he notes.

He refers to the recent signing of the long-awaited document for Montenegro’s accession to the organization. It allows Montenegrin representatives to take part in all Alliance meetings as observers until the agreement is ratified by the current 28 NATO members.

“NATO claims that states have "voluntarily" applied for the membership,” Weilmeier writes in his article for the Contra magazine.

However this hides a banal truth: the countries of the Eastern Europe are constantly balancing on the verge of economic crisis and need support. The West jumps in to fill the gap with money and promises, exploiting the plight of these small nations.”

Another military expert Dmitry Ofitserov-Belsky also notes that Washington is not satisfied with European efforts and wants to force Europe to take more responsibility for its own defense.

“It should be noted that these are Americans who are creating a belt of instability around Europe making European security a more and more expensive business altogether,” Ofitserov-Belsky, foreign relations expert and associate professor at the National Research University Higher School of Economics, told Radio Sputnik.

The Wall Street Journal asks if NATO has any Plan B as a backup.

“Well, for now, it might involve NATO’s other non-European member, Canada,” it suggests.

The outlet notes that US and NATO officials were negotiating with Canadian officials about the possibility the Canadian army could take a greater role. Canada currently has 220 troops in Poland.

Canada is actively considering options to effectively contribute to NATO’s strengthened defense and deterrence posture,” it quotes one Canadian official without revealing his name.

However, Christian Weilmeier notes that a permanent peace could be achieved in Europe only when the interests of all the great powers are taken into account “in an equitable manner.”

 

[sToRmR1dR]

Ten Killed in Eastern Afghanistan Bomb Attack

http://sputniknews.com/asia/20160525/1040202655/afghanistan-insurgency-suicide-bomber.html

At least 10 people were killed and seven injured in an explosion that occurred in the eastern Afghan Kabul province, local media reported Wednesday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — At least 10 people were killed and seven injured in an explosion that occurred in the eastern Afghan Kabul province, local media reported Wednesday, citing Interior Ministry spokesman Najib Danish.

According to Danish, the bomb attack took place in Kabul’s 5th police district and targeted a vehicle carrying the Maidan Wardak province’s appellate court employees, the Khaama Press news agency reported.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, which Danish confirmed was carried out by a suicide bomber, the media reported.

Afghanistan is struggling with political, social and security instability, as the Taliban movement and other radical extremist organizations such as the Islamic State, which is prohibited in many countries, including the United States and Russia, have expanded their activities in the country.

The goal of a terrorist bombed in Afghanistan, became court workers

http://ria.ru/world/20160525/1439240220.html

MOSCOW, May 25 -. RIA Novosti The death toll in an explosion in eastern Afghanistan has risen to 10, the aim of the suicide bomber were employees of the Court of Appeal, the agency Khaama Press referring to the representative of the Ministry of Interior of Afghanistan.

Earlier it was reported three dead.

The explosion occurred on Wednesday morning in the Paghman district. The explosive device was powered by a suicide bomber. His target was a vehicle carrying employees of the Court of Appeal. According to the representative of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, four people were injured.

According to the agency, formerly radical movement "Taliban" has threatened attacks on members of the judiciary in response to the execution of militant groups.

The situation in Afghanistan has deteriorated markedly in recent months. The radical movement "Taliban" previously had overwhelmed a large area in the rural areas of the country, launched a major offensive on the city. On the territory of the country greatly increased the impact of the IG.

Five gunmen supporting IS detained in North Caucasus — ministry

http://tass.ru/en/society/877897

Five gunmen from a group connected with the Islamic State were detained in Ingushetia, Russia’s republic in the North Caucasus — the regional interior ministry

NAZRAN, May 24. /TASS/. Five gunmen from a group connected with the Islamic State were detained in Ingushetia, Russia’s republic in the North Caucasus, the press service of the regional interior ministry reported on Tuesday.

It said "five residents of Ekazhevo settlement, aged between 24 and 44 and making part of illegal armed groups, were detained between May 19 and 23 in a joint operation of Ingushetia’s Interior Ministry and the Russian Federal Security Service(FSB)".

It was established in the course of initial investigation that the detained men had formed a terrorist cell, the press service said. The Information Center of the National Anti-Terrorist Committee reported earlier that FSB and police forces had wound up in the republic the activity of a gang connected with Islamic State.

Online Sex Doll Purchase Leads Investigators to "Rubber ISIS Cell" in Ingushetia

http://www.fort-russ.com/2016/05/online-sex-doll-purchase-leads.html

Translated by Kristina Kharlova
May 24, 2016 Infotop

http://www.infotop.lv/article/ru/na-bandu-terroristov-v-ingushetii-vishli-po-zakazannoi-ee-glavarem-rezinovoi-kukle-v-internete

Terrorist cell in Ingushetia discovered thanks to sex doll purchase

An Ingushetia terrorist cell called by local investigators "rubber ISIS cell" was discovered after its leader ordered a sex doll online.

28-year-old Umar Gagiev used SIM card already related to fraud investigation and ordered an electric sex doll to be shipped to his real address, told "Life News" a source in law enforcement.

It is not clear if Umar received his toy, but police certainly didn't make him wait too long. The house of ISIS cell leader also contained three license plates, more than a dozen mobile phones, 36 SIM cards, four bank cards, 46 thousand rubles and $2,500. Improvised explosive devices, grenades, detonators, a pistol and ammunition were also seized.

And most importantly, after questioning the leader gave up a very valuable member of the cell - 44 year-old police officer of "Magas" airport police department Amerkhan Sapraliev, who may be involved in preparing terrorist attacks in Ingushetia. In the house of a police officer with 16 years of experience a stockpile of weapons and explosives was discovered.

Sapraliev also pointed to two equipped hideouts at a cemetery of Ekazhevo village and one in the woods adjacent to the village, storing grenades, shrapnel ammunition for rocket-propelled grenades VOG-25, plastic ammo, an improvised explosive device in the form of a three-liter pot with explosives, as well as a few packages of aluminum powder and saltpeter.

No ‘yellow card’ for Ahrar Al-Sham in Syria despite massacre reports – State Dept.

https://www.rt.com/usa/344259-syria-sham-state-department/

Washington will continue to back a rebel group that reportedly committed a massacre in Syria, because they were “vetted” by the Saudis and play a role in the Syrian political process, the State Department spokesman told reporters.

Ahrar Al-Sham (Harakat Ahrar ash-Sham al-Islamiyya or “Islamic Movement of the Free Men of the Levant”) is one of the largest rebel groups in Syria, and belongs to the Saudi-backed High Negotiating Committee (HNC). It is considered a party to the Syrian ceasefire, negotiated by Russia and the US.

On May 13, however, Al-Sham fighters raided the village of Al-Zara, killing and capturing scores of inhabitants. Speaking to RT Arabic, the surviving villagers described the attack as a “massacre.”

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Two days earlier, Washington blocked a Russian proposal at the UN to delegitimize Ahrar ash-Sham and another group called Jaysh al-Islam, over their regular violations of the ceasefire. Britain, France and Ukraine sided with the US. On Tuesday, State Department spokesman Mark Toner defended the decision.

“Ahrar al-Sham is not a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization,” Toner told reporters, in response to a question from RT’s Gayane Chichakyan. “It is part of this vetted group of opposition forces that are part of the HNC. That was process mostly led by Saudi Arabia, but with the consent of other members of ISSG, and that includes Russia.”

Co-chaired by the US and Russia, the International Syria Support Group consists of 20 countries, including the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, the Gulf Arab countries and China.

Asked to comment on a report that Labib al Nahhas, a senior official of Ahrar Al-Sham, visited Washington in December 2015, Toner cited “privacy concerns” on Monday and said he would follow up.

“I do know this individual certainly did not have any meetings that I’m aware of at the State Department,” he said on Tuesday. “I can’t speak to whether we were aware or not aware of his visit or entry into the country. I just don’t have that information.”

While condemning the atrocities in Zara, Toner attempted to diminish them by saying, “frankly, we have seen similar attacks on the part of the regime,” referring to the government in Damascus the US wants to see overthrown by the rebels.

“How many villages do they have to massacre before they become bad guys?” one reporter asked, but received no response. Neither did the reporter who asked what qualified Ahrar Al-Sham as “moderates,” when their ideology was no different from Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) or Jabhat Al-Nusra.

“I don’t have the criteria, other than the fact that they were believed to be a part of the viable Syrian opposition, and that they exhibited a desire to play a positive, constructive role to resolving the conflict,” Toner said.

Asked whether the US would pressure the group to abide by the ceasefire, Toner was noncommittal.

“We’re not giving them a yellow card,” he said.

While Ahrar al-Sham is not on the US list of foreign terrorist organizations, neither were Islamic State branches in Libya, Yemen and Saudi Arabia – until last week, when the State Department officially designated them as such.

Another reporter brought up the State Department’s apparent prioritization of the “political transition” in Syria over fighting IS, reminding the spokesman that Secretary of State John Kerry argued for an “ISIS first” approach back in 2014.

“It’s hard to separate the two. We need both,” Toner said, adding that the civil war was making it “murky and difficult” to combat the terror group.

Washington is pretending that Ahrar Al-Sham and other groups are moderates because without backing the rebels, the US has no other policy option in Syria, and “they have to accept the fact that Assad is going to stay in power and the terrorists must be defeated." former US diplomat Jim Jatras told RT. “And they cannot accept that.”

Russian Jets Airdrop 32.5 Tons of Aid to Deir Ez-Zor Besieged by Daesh

http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160525/1040201725/russia-aid-daesh-syria.html

Russian cargo planes airlifted 32.5 metric tons of humanitarian aid to the Islamist-besieged Syrian city of Deir ez-Zor, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a daily bulletin on its website.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Over the past week, the city had received an average of over 36 tons of humanitarian cargo, mostly food rations and cereals.

"Russian aircraft using parachute systems have delivered 32.5 tons of food products received from the UN to Deir ez-Zor, which had been besieged by Daesh militants," the ministry said Tuesday.

Russia has been supplying food, medicine and construction materials to besieged and hard-to-reach areas in Syria since the beginning of 2016.